Trump’s Bigger Army Could Cost $12 Billion by Fanning’s Math
- Departing Army secretary sees $1.6 billion per 10,000 soldiers
- ‘What do you want the Army to do?’ is strategic question
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President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to increase the Army’s active-duty troops to 540,000 from 465,000 today could cost at least an extra $12 billion once the goal is met, based on a formula provided by departing Army Secretary Eric Fanning.
“What do you want the Army to do?” is the strategic question that must be answered, Fanning said in an interview as he prepared to leave office. “The incoming team will define that. But based on current requirements,” such as renewed deployments in Europe, “I definitely think the Army will benefit from added force structure.”