US Army to Expand Through 2027 as Pentagon Tackles Recruiting Crisis

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said sweeping reforms have been launched to increase military personnel and rebuild the force after years of recruiting shortfalls. He said the Pentagon is aiming to raise troop numbers through 2027 to strengthen the army’s capacity. Speaking at the West Point Military Academy graduation ceremony in New York, Hegseth said the force will become larger with increases planned next year. He also said the recruiting targets for 2026 have been fully met. The move is being treated as part of a broader strategy to optimize the US military’s personnel structure. It follows a period in which the armed forces faced a serious manpower crisis. US Chief of Staff General Dan Keane said in May that the current number of troops was about 1.8 million. The army had missed its recruitment targets by 23 percent in 2022 and 25 percent in 2023. The US administration is planning to restructure its military power through the new reforms as it works to offset the personnel losses of recent years.