Pentagon Budget 2026: FY 2026 request seeks small increase in end strength

Total end-strength figures from FY 2023 to FY 2026. (US Department of Defense)

The US Department of Defense (DoD) budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2026 calls for an increase in end strength of about 25,000 military personnel above the FY 2025 authorised level, senior defence officials told journalists during a background briefing on 26 June.

The navy's recruiting and advertising budget is slated to increase by 5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026 to maintain the positive recruiting results seen in recent months for both the US Navy and US Marine Corps, a senior navy official said.

Marine corps retention is at about 108%, while the FY 2026 budget aims to add around 6,000 sailors to help address shortages at sea, the navy official added.

The army budget includes USD1.9 billion for bonuses and incentives, according to a senior army official. The budget for marketing and advertising is reduced by 6% to seek efficiencies within the service's marketing plans, the official noted.

The FY 2026 request seeks a total end strength of 2,067,700, including active, reserve, and National Guard personnel, up from 2,043,000 authorised in FY 2025, according to budget documents. However, the current end-strength projection for FY 2025 is 2,052,768, reducing the anticipated increase in FY 2026 to 14,932 personnel, the documents indicated. If the FY 2026 figure is reached, this would be an increase of 32,645 personnel from FY 2024, the budget documents said.

Active forces