CBO: Strength Reductions Would Save Money

Government spending would decrease under personnel cuts outlined in the Senate version of the 2015 defense-spending bill, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The measure, S. 2410, calls for decreasing active-duty strength to 1,308,600, down 52,800 from current levels. The reduction would decrease Defense Department costs by $32.9 billion from 2015 through 2019, according to CBO. Reserve-component strength would be set at 829,800, a decrease of 12,900. The measure would save the Pentagon $2.5 billion for selected reservists, and $510 million for reserve technicians, during those years.