Planned Army Cuts Raise Concerns

The Obama administration’s plan to reduce total Army strength is drawing criticism from a panel of experts tasked with studying the proposal’s potential impact. The National Commission on the Future of the Army (NCFA) concluded that the decisions leading to the planned cuts are based on outdated data. Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 11, retired Gen. James D. Thurman alluded to threats posed by North Korea, increased Russian activity in Syria, the rise of the Islamic State, and continuing conflict in Afghanistan. “I think we have major warning signs in front of us right now,” Thurman told lawmakers. The commission recommended that total active, reserve and National Guard strength should not drop below 980,000.