Lawmakers say the reason for the lower target isn’t a decrease in missions or threats in recent years. Instead, the number reflects recruiting challenges across the services and an expectation of what level of personnel is realistic in coming months.

They aren't lowering troop numbers because they want to, they're moving the goalposts to meet the reality of diminished recruiting.

Also, privatization is for non-combat roles, logistics and what not. It allows us to keep more US military personnel in combat roles instead of support roles.

When all of these hack aren't enough to fill ranks in a major conflict, the next step is a draft. Iraq I, II and Afghanistan were not major conflicts in terms of total deployment.

https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_w...

Also, no politician will utter the word "draft," or they will lose all support. If a major conflict arises with Russia, it will get instituted, make no mistake about it. Everyone pushing for war with Russia needs to consider the consequences.