JUST IN: Secretary Of Defense Pete Hegseth Announces $5.1 Billion In Pentagon Contract Cuts

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

JUST IN: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Announces $5.1 Billion in Pentagon Contract Cuts
Massive move signals aggressive shift toward prioritizing warfighter readiness and slashing government waste

WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 11, 2025 — In a bold move aimed at reducing wasteful spending and redirecting resources toward core defense priorities, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the termination of $5.1 billion in Pentagon contracts. The announcement came via a video message released on social media, marking the largest single-day cut in the Department of Defense’s ongoing cost-reduction campaign.

“This is a big day,” Hegseth said. “We’re signing a memo directing the termination of $5.1 billion in DoD contracts for ancillary things like consulting and other non-essential services. We’re putting that money where it belongs — back into supporting our warfighters and their families.”

Key Cuts and Savings Areas

Hegseth provided detailed examples of where the cuts are coming from:

$1.8 Billion: Slashed from Defense Health Agency (DHA) contracts with major consulting firms including Accenture, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton.
$1.4 Billion: Saved by canceling a software reseller contract for enterprise cloud IT services deemed unnecessary.
$500 Million: Cut from a Navy business process consulting deal focused on administrative offices — money Hegseth says should be redirected to military healthcare.
$500 Million: Terminated DARPA help desk IT services contract, which duplicated services already provided by the DISA workforce.

Targeting DEI and Non-Essential Spending

In addition to traditional budget trims, Hegseth emphasized a broader push to eliminate contracts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as other “non-essential” initiatives like climate change and COVID-19 response efforts.

“We are committed to rooting out DEI — root and branch — throughout this department,” Hegseth stated. “We’ve identified and terminated 11 more contracts and we’re not done yet.”

Funding Freeze on Elite Universities

In alignment with President Trump’s directive to stop federal funding for academic institutions that “tolerate anti-Semitism and promote divisive DEI initiatives,” the Department of Defense also paused more than $500 million in federal funding to Northwestern University and Cornell University. This follows earlier funding freezes totaling $70 million at Columbia, UPenn, Brown, and Princeton.

“As if any of these Ivy League institutions need more government money at all,” Hegseth said. “We’re redirecting these funds to support those who serve, not those who divide.”

Running Total: Nearly $6 Billion Slashed in 6 Weeks

With this latest round of cuts, the Pentagon’s total cost reductions under the Hegseth-led initiative have reached nearly $6 billion in just six weeks — a move touted as a monumental shift toward military readiness, efficiency, and accountability.

“Thanks to our team at DoD and the Doge Office, we are rooting out waste, reinvesting in warfighting capabilities, and delivering real results for the American taxpayer,” said Hegseth.

What’s Next?

Secretary Hegseth promised continued evaluations of spending across the Department of Defense and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to restoring fiscal discipline in federal agencies.

FAQs: Pentagon Contract Cuts Announced by Secretary Pete Hegseth

Q1. What is the total value of the Pentagon contracts being cut?

A: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the termination of $5.1 billion in Department of Defense (DoD) contracts, making it one of the largest single-day cuts in recent DoD history.

Q2. What types of contracts are being eliminated?

A: The cuts focus on non-essential contracts including:

Consulting services with firms like Accenture and Booz Allen
Software reseller agreements for cloud IT services
Business process consulting in the Navy
IT help desk services that duplicate internal capabilities
DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), climate, and COVID-19-related initiatives

Q3. Why are DEI and climate-related programs being targeted?

A: The current administration has prioritized eliminating programs it deems divisive or non-essential. Hegseth stated the goal is to "root out DEI root and branch" and focus on initiatives that directly enhance military readiness.

Q4. What will happen to the money saved from these cuts?

A: Hegseth stated that the funds will be redirected toward warfighter support, including military healthcare and operational readiness, rather than administrative overhead and consulting.

Q5. Are universities being affected by this initiative?

A: Yes. The DoD is pausing over $500 million in federal funding to Northwestern University and Cornell University, citing concerns over anti-Semitism and DEI support. Previous freezes affected Columbia, Penn, Brown, and Princeton.

Q6. What is the Doge Office mentioned in the announcement?

A: The Doge Office is a specialized unit within the DoD tasked with identifying and eliminating wasteful spending. It plays a key role in uncovering duplicative or unnecessary contracts.

Q7. How much has the DoD saved in total so far?

A: With the latest round of cuts, the DoD has saved nearly $6 billion in the first six weeks of the department’s aggressive cost-cutting efforts.

Q8. Will more cuts be announced?

A: Yes. Hegseth made it clear that additional evaluations are underway and more spending reductions are expected as part of a broader campaign to reform the Pentagon's budget.

Watch Video

Comments

'Fauci Is In The Witness Protection Program Now': DeSantis Highlights Lower Profile For Dr. Fauci

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr 'Fauci Is In The Witness Protection Program Now': DeSantis Highlights Lower Profile For Dr. Fauci. At a press event on Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about Dr. Fauci. The Press Conference was held at the University of South Florida to announce investments in cybersecurity workforce education. During the same news conference, he took a shot at Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden's chief medical advisor, over his actions during the Coronavirus pandemic. DeSantis has fundraised off of attacking Fauci and his campaign sells anti-Fauci merchandise. "I agree if you think about what they've done, Fauci is in the witness protection program now," said DeSantis, when asked if there were any parts of Biden's State of the Union address that he agreed on. "If you listen to them, they have never supported all these policies that were so destructive." During this press conference he was also talking about...

MAJOR SECURITY COMPANY EMPLOYS MAN WITNESSED IN ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM

MAJOR SECURITY COMPANY EMPLOYS MAN WITNESSED IN ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM ArmorCode Under Fire for Alleged Vandalism Incident Involving Employee Jim Pelis ArmorCode, a prominent cybersecurity company led by CEO Nikhil Gupta, is facing intense scrutiny after one of its employees, James "Jim" Pelis, was allegedly caught on camera vandalizing a Tesla Cybertruck in New Hampshire. The incident reportedly took place on Saturday, March 22, 2025, in the parking lot of the Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa in Bretton Woods. Details of the Incident According to reports, the owner of the Tesla Cybertruck, Kerri Pouliot, discovered the damage within an hour of arriving at the hotel. Surveillance footage is said to show Jim Pelis keying the vehicle. Despite initially denying involvement when questioned by police, Pelis was confronted with video evidence. The Carroll Police Department and the Coos County Attorney's Office have confirmed they are currently investigating the matt...

Karoline Leavitt Shows No Mercy With Brutal Response To Tim Walz Mocking Tesla Stock Dropping

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr Karoline Leavitt Fires Back at Gov. Tim Walz Over Tesla Stock Comments Washington, D.C. – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a sharp response to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) after he openly mocked Tesla’s declining stock prices. During a White House press briefing, Leavitt dismissed Walz’s remarks, calling them a reflection of his “sad existence” following his political loss. The exchange came when a reporter asked Leavitt about Walz’s comment, in which he admitted to checking Tesla’s stock “to give [himself] a little boost during the day.” The Minnesota governor’s statement was widely seen as a dig at Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been a vocal supporter of conservative policies and free speech on social media. Leavitt did not hold back in her response. “I think that's quite sad,” she said. “But I think Governor Walz, unfortunately, is living a sad existence after his devastating defeat on Novemb...

JUST IN: DeSantis Torches Republican Randy Fine After He Wins In Florida Special Election

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr Ron DeSantis Blasts Republican Randy Fine After Florida Special Election Win Tallahassee, FL – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivered a scathing rebuke of Republican Randy Fine following his victory in Florida’s Special Congressional Election . While Fine secured the win, DeSantis criticized his underperformance , attributing it to Fine’s controversial political record and lack of voter enthusiasm . DeSantis: Fine’s Win Was a Struggle for the GOP Despite winning the special election, Randy Fine failed to secure the same overwhelming support previous Republican candidates enjoyed in the district. DeSantis pointed out that President Donald Trump won the district by 30 points in 2020 , while DeSantis himself carried it by over 35 points in 2022 . However, Fine’s victory margin was significantly lower , leading DeSantis to call out the millions of dollars spent by the GOP just to keep the district red—a race that s...

JUST IN: Trump Asked If It Would Be A 'Problem' For The Atlantic To Release All Messages In Leaked Group Chat

Trump meeting at The White House Trump Asked If It Would Be a 'Problem' for The Atlantic to Release All Messages in Leaked Group Chat In a recent press interaction, President Donald Trump was questioned about the potential release of text messages from a leaked group chat by The Atlantic . The conversation has sparked interest, as it could potentially involve sensitive or classified information. When asked, "Would it be a problem if The Atlantic released all the text messages if they're not classified?" President Trump responded cautiously, indicating the need for military input on the matter. "Well, I don't know. I'd have to ask the military about that because, you know, maybe you wouldn't want that. I don't know," Trump said. He refrained from making a definitive statement on the potential release but hinted at possible security concerns. The president further downplayed the importance of the individual at the center of the controversy...

JUST IN: President Trump Discusses His NATO Policy Plans: 'They Have To Treat Us Fairly'

Donald Trump at Trump Force One Trump Discusses His NATO Policy Plans: 'They Have To Treat Us Fairly' In an Oval Office meeting on Friday, President Donald Trump outlined his stance on NATO, emphasizing the importance of fairness and accountability among member nations. Addressing questions about the U.S.'s role in the alliance, Trump reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the burden of defense costs is more evenly distributed. "NATO is something that I saved," Trump declared. "NATO was gone until I came along. In fact, the previous Secretary General, a very good man, along with the current one, who is fantastic, both said, 'If it wasn't for Trump, you wouldn't even have a NATO.'" The President criticized the disproportionate financial contributions made by the United States compared to other member nations. "We were paying the cost of almost all of the countries," Trump stated. "I said, 'We're not going to...

Karoline Leavitt Pressed On Admin. Memo Taking 'Segregation' Out Of Criteria For Federal Contracting

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr Karoline Leavitt Pressed on Admin Memo Removing ‘Segregation’ from Federal Contracting Criteria Washington, D.C. – March 21, 2025 – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced tough questions on Thursday regarding a recently surfaced memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that reportedly removed “segregation” as a criterion for federal contracting. During the press briefing, a reporter pressed Leavitt about the intent behind the memo and whether the administration was planning to reinstate such language in federal policies. "The administration is getting some attention this week for a memo that was released a couple of weeks ago, taking segregation out of the criteria for federal contracting," the reporter asked. "Can you explain what that memo was supposed to do?" Leavitt responded by deferring to the agency responsible for issuing the memo, stating that she had not personally reviewed...

Karoline Leavitt Responds To Claims That The SAVE Act Inhibits Married Womens’ Access To The Polls

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Responds to Claims That the SAVE Act Inhibits Married Women’s Access to the Polls Press Secretary Calls Criticism "Fear-Mongering," Reaffirms Bill’s Support for Voter Integrity WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 11, 2025 — During Friday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly rejected claims that the newly passed SAFEGUARD American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would restrict married women or women changing their names from voting in upcoming elections. The SAVE Act, which was passed by the House on Thursday, requires individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. While the legislation has drawn praise from supporters who view it as a critical step toward securing election integrity , it has also sparked concern among critics — particularly regarding its impact on married women whose legal names may not match current identi...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Asked Point Blank About Impact Of Trump’s Tariffs On Fishing Industry

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr JUST IN: DeSantis Responds to Trump Tariffs Concerns for Florida's Fishing Industry TALLAHASSEE, FL — At a press briefing on Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was asked directly about the potential effects of former President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on the state's robust fishing industry . While DeSantis downplayed a direct connection to recreational fishing , he took the opportunity to spotlight a more pressing issue: federal overregulation and outdated data harming Florida’s anglers. “In terms of recreational fishing, I’m not sure that [tariffs] are necessarily going to be as direct,” said DeSantis. “The bigger issue is that the federal government continues to restrict the ability of our anglers to access resources in the Atlantic and Gulf .” DeSantis: State Management of Red Snapper Season a Game-Changer DeSantis pointed to Florida’s success in managing Gulf red snapper seasons after the feder...

Karoline Leavitt Pressed For Details On DOGE's 'Incredible Discovery' to Cut Government Spending

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr White House Teases 'Incredible Discovery' by DOGE: Karoline Leavitt Says Details Coming Soon WASHINGTON, D.C. — At Tuesday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was grilled by reporters about an “incredible” and “horrible” discovery reportedly made by DOGE , the Department of Government Efficiency, aimed at significantly reducing federal spending. The news first emerged last Thursday when President Trump hinted at a major finding , calling it both "horrible" and "incredible" — words that sent shockwaves through Washington and ignited speculation across the political spectrum. What Did DOGE Discover? Leavitt Stays Tight-Lipped Leavitt declined to reveal specific details, saying: “There has been a discovery — I hate to leave you hanging on a cliff — but I don’t want to get ahead of the president on that. I can confirm there has been a discovery, it’s just not quite yet ...

US Hub

Search This Blog