You’ll see articles talking saying “Pentagon to cut spending by $78 billion“, but what they really mean is spending on defense will grow less $78 billion less over the next 5 years. So not really any cuts.

In response to questions, he emphasized that the $78 billion reduction over the next five years actually represents a “decline in the rate of growth,” since the Pentagon budget will grow “in absolute dollars” every year. “The focus here is on a reduction in the rate of growth as opposed to absolute cuts,” he said.