Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the military services to identify $50 billion in programs that could be cut next year in order to redirect those savings to fund President Donald Trump's priorities. Hegseth has committed to redirecting Pentagon spending to more directly support warfighters. In a statement late Wednesday, Robert Salesses, who is performing the duties of deputy secretary of defense, said “the time for preparation is over" and “excessive bureaucracy" and programs targeting climate change or “other woke programs" such as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives would be targeted.