WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Sequestration spending cuts will significantly impact the US Army and its mission if they take effect in 2015, US Defense Department said in a statement.
“If sequestration spending cuts trigger this year, it will affect every person and mission the US Army has,” the statement, issued on Wednesday, said.
22 October 2014, 17:42 GMT
Army Secretary John McHugh said in the statement that sequestration would decrease the amount of active duty soldiers from 500,000 to 420,000, and reduce the US Army’s readiness as it would not be able to protect funding for home-station training.
McHugh also said that the US Army would have to cut additional brigade combat teams as a result of not having enough dollars to pay for them.
The 2011 US Budget Control Act introduced mechanisms to reduce the US deficit and implement automatic budget sequestration.
