CNN reported on Wednesday that the planned layoffs could be in violation of Title 10 Section 129a of the U.S. code, a law that mandates the Defense secretary conduct "an appropriate analysis" of how major dismissals could impact the U.S. military's lethality and readiness before implementing.
"The media wants to call these exclusively 'cuts.' It's not a cut," Hegseth said. "It's refocusing and reinvesting funds into building a force to protect you, the American people."