U.S. to halve F-35 fighter jet purchases — Bloomberg

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to cut the number of F-35 fighter jets it will buy in fiscal 2026 from 48 to 24, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing congressional sources.

The reduction is part of a revised defense budget aligned with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s five-year plan to reduce projected military spending by 8%.

The Pentagon has already submitted the adjusted request to Congress.

According to the report, Hegseth’s plan also includes eliminating over 120 senior officer positions, including nine top command posts in active duty forces and the National Guard.

In February, Hegseth directed the development of an annual defense budget reduction strategy, which includes cuts to climate-related programs, bureaucratic expansion, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.