FY2025 NDAA: Active Component End-Strength (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Oct. 21, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IN12449 |
| Report Type |
Insight |
| Authors |
Nicholas M. Munves |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Under10 U.S.C. §115(f), Congress sets the maximum size of the active component of the Armed Forces
each year, typically in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The active component comprises
the full-time personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. Congress also
appropriates funds for the pay and benefits of these personnel.
End-strength specifically refers to the actual number of personnel in a branch on the last day of the fiscal
year (i.e., September 30). The proposed end-strength figures in FY2025 NDAA would be for September
30, 2025. Congress also periodically sets minimum end strength levels for the Armed Forces, that may be
identical to or lower than the authorized end strength. While Congress authorizes minimum and
maximum end-strengths, each military service manages its force, through recruiting and retention efforts,
to achieve an actual end-strength.
Typically, this actual end-strength falls within the congressionally authorized minimum and maximum
end-strengths. However, there are circumstances in which the actual end-strength may fall outside the
authorized range. For example, under 10 U.S.C. §115(c), the Secretary of Defense may increase the endstrength of any of the services above the authorized end-strength by up to two percent. Recruiting and
retention shortfalls may cause one or more of the services to fall below their minimum authorized
strength.
The Secretary of Defense is required by law (10 U.S.C. §113a(b)(2)) to submit end-strength requests for
all branches of the active component in an annual request to Congress. Congress is not bound by these
requests; since FY2009, Congress has not authorized an end-strength that differed from the DoD request
by more than 7%. Authorized end-strengths have differed from the Secretary of Defense’s requests by an
average of 0.8% over this period.
