Budget Proposal: Pentagon Plans to Expand US Armed Forces by About 44,500 Troops

The US Department of War plans to significantly increase the size of the armed forces as part of a new defense budget.

The proposal, outlined in the 2027 defense budget, calls for the addition of 44,500 service members.

According to the plan, 40,100 personnel will join active-duty forces, while another 4,400 will be added to the reserves. The expansion will affect all major branches of the US military.

The request to increase troop numbers comes as part of an overall defense budget of approximately $1.5 trillion.

The document also includes funding for weapons procurement, the development of new technologies, and the modernization of military infrastructure.

At the Pentagon, these plans are explained by recruiting successes. In fiscal year 2025, military recruitment reached its highest level in more than 15 years.

Military officials attribute the recovery to investments in preparatory programs and the adoption of private-sector methods. This helped overcome the previous crisis period.

In 2023, a number of branches, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force, failed to meet their recruitment targets. The largest shortfall was recorded in the Army.

In particular, between 2021 and 2023, the size of the US Army decreased by tens of thousands of troops. After changes in recruiting approaches, the situation stabilized.

The US Army is set for the largest increase, with its total strength expected to reach 469,000 personnel. This includes about 15,000 additional soldiers and 3,300 National Guard members.

The Air Force is also expanding, planning to add roughly 11,700 personnel, despite a slight reduction in some reserve positions.

The US Navy aims to grow by about 12,000 sailors. The Marine Corps will add 1,400 personnel, while the Marine Corps Reserve will expand by another 1,100 positions.

The Pentagon says the expansion will boost combat readiness and improve the military’s ability to respond to global threats. There is also a strong focus on modernization and long-term capability development.

Militarnyi previously reported that the average age of US Army recruits has increased in recent years. In fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026), it reached 22.7 years.