{"id":2842,"date":"2026-07-03T15:39:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T15:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hometransferguide.com\/?p=2842"},"modified":"2026-07-03T15:39:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T15:39:02","slug":"hegseth-reportedly-pulled-plug-on-troop-cuts-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hometransferguide.com\/?p=2842","title":{"rendered":"Hegseth Reportedly Pulled Plug On Troop Cuts In Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reportedly pulled the plug on plans to reduce U.S. troop counts in Europe, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.<\/p>\n

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Hegseth\u2019s plans were cancelled shortly before he was going to make the announcement at a meeting in Brussels in June, the WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The proposal was reportedly nixed after it was shared with Secretary of State and national security adviser Marco Rubio and other senior White House officials.<\/p>\n

The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

The reported plan to announce the troop cuts was repeatedly teased by the Pentagon, with it unveiling reductions in troops and equipment from Europe in May.<\/p>\n

The Department of War (DOW) was planning to pull an $50 billion in equipment from Europe, Reuters reported on June 17, citing anonymous sources. (RELATED: Senate Wades Even Deeper Into Bloody Years-Long Proxy War In New Defense Bill)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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One-third of the F-15 and F-15E fighter jets, a fifth of KC-135 and KC-46 refueling aircraft and half of the MQ-4 and MQ-9 Reaper drones will be leaving the theater, along with half of the strategic bombers and aircraft carriers, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources.<\/p>\n

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An F15 fighter plane takes off from RAF Lakenheath at sunset on January 07, 2026 in Mildenhall, England. There have been recent reports of increased United States Air Force aircraft arriving at American bases in England this week, including RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. (Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Naval assets in the region will also be severely affected, with nearly half of the maritime patrol aircraft, nearly half of the destroyers and the only cruise missile-laden submarine leaving, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n

However, the removal of these assets is now unclear as the more recent WSJ reporting appears to fly directly in the face of these proposed cuts.<\/p>\n

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Even earlier than Reuters reporting, the total number of brigade combat teams was cut from four to three, according to a Department of War press release on May 19.<\/p>\n

Each brigade combat team contains over 4,000 soldiers, artillery and numerous heavy weapons, according to the\u00a0.<\/p>\n

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However, even this proposed plan seemed to be quickly counterbalanced by a May 21 statement from President Donald Trump on Truth Social.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland. Thank you for your attention to this matter,\u201d Trump wrote in the Truth Social post.<\/p>\n