2025 Army Transformation Initiative (ATI) Force Structure and Organizational Proposals: background and Issues for Congress

On April 30, 2025, Secretary of Defense (War) Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum, “Army Transformation and Acquisition Reform,” directing the Secretary of the Army to implement a comprehensive transformation strategy, streamline its force structure, eliminate wasteful spending, reform the acquisition process, modernize inefficient defense contracts, and overcome parochial interests to rebuild our Army, restore the warrior ethos, and reestablish deterrence. Among other things, this directive requires the Army to restructure Army forces; downsize, consolidate, or close what is described as redundant headquarters; end procurement of what is described as obsolete systems; and cancel or scale back what is described as ineffective or redundant programs. This report addresses actions taken by the Army in response to the Secretary of Defense’s directive as they pertain to force structure, headquarters, and associated organizations. On May 1, 2025, in response to the Secretary of Defense’s (War’s) directive, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and General Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army published a “Letter to the Force: Army Transformation Initiative” to implement “a comprehensive transformation strategy,” referred to as the Army Transformation Initiative, or ATI. The ATI could have a range of national security implications of concern to Congress. Some of these could include the availability of Army forces to support Combatant Command requirements and the effectiveness of Army operations, as well as the effectiveness of ATI-proposed changes to existing headquarters units. Furthermore, the directive to transform Army force structure could have an impact on Army bases located in Members’ districts or states, and it may have economic ramifications for communities around or near affected bases. Planned ATI proposals may also have an impact on local and state defense-related industries, including those involved with ATI-proposed weapons systems acquisitions, cancellations, or procurement quantity modifications. Because of the scope and complexity of ATI-directed actions, this report focuses exclusively on ATI’s potential impact on Army force structure, headquarters, and commands. Potential issues for Congress related to ATI could include the Army’s ability to meet Combatant Command requirements, ATI and changes to Army capabilities, the Army implementation plan for ATI, ATI measures of effectiveness, and the impact of Golden Dome homeland missile defense requirements on ATI.