(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) issued the following statement regarding a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which shows the Army did not adequately asses risks in troop reductions, potentially jeopardizing mission demands. The GAO-issued report was completed in response to a Vitter provision in the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

“When it comes to our national security, the bare minimum should not be one of the options. The Administration keeps lowering the standards and requirements, and yet we are repeatedly less and less capable of meeting the increasing threats throughout the world,” said Vitter. “This report only confirms the need to fight these misguided drawdowns. Cutting down force structure at an unprecedented pace without a thorough analysis fails the safety of the American people, the soldiers serving our country, and our nation itself by putting them at a significantly higher risk. I will continue fighting to make sure our military forces are the most capable and prepared not only to execute the current defense strategic guidance, but able to address the growing threats.”

In the FY2015 NDAA, Vitter successfully included a provision that required the ongoing evaluation for the Army’s future force structure, and the need for a risk assessment to review the dangerous drawdown of Army end-strength.

Since 2013, Vitter has fought to protect troop levels in order to meet increased burdens and to provide adequate training for soldiers. In 2015, Vitter led a group of 11 Senators in urging the Senate Armed Services Committee to maintain the military’s force structure at then current levels based on concern that force structure was not supported by an objective review of threats and strategy, but by a mandate to meet an artificially imposed budget cap. Vitter has also successfully secured provisions in the NDAA to protect the Army’s total troop levels against the Administration’s attempts to reduce it at a faster pace.

On April 18th the Administration announced that the United States will send increased troops to Iraq closer to the front lines of battle to advise Iraqi forces in the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). With the announcement, the estimated total number of U.S. forces in Iraq will be 4,100. Additionally, recent public reports show an increase in the number of countries where the Pentagon has acknowledged the presence of U.S.-led forces. However, since 2010 both national and strategic guidance as well as operational contingency plans of Combatant Commanders have been lowered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense based upon budget constraints, not threats. Due to the White House Office of Management and Budget implementation decisions, the Army currently is drawing down to the smallest force since before World War II. By fiscal year 2018, the Army active-duty end strength will fall to between 450,000 to 420,000 from a peak of 570,000 in fiscal year 2010. The number of active-duty Army troops is set to fall to 460,000 by the end of fiscal 2017.

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