If former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) emerges from an extremely contentious confirmation hearing as the next U.S. defense secretary, he may enter the Pentagon weakened at a time when the military's top civilian needs cooperation more than ever. The Pentagon, which scaled back its fiscal expectations dramatically in early 2012, is facing the prospect of $500 billion in across-the-board budget reductions. It is in the midst of drawing down the war in Afghanistan, guarding against continued tension in the Middle East and pivoting forces to the Pacific. Even if the budget penalty known as sequestration fails, there is support from the White House and among lawmakers of both parties for cutting the defense budget. And analysts are predicting an annual reduction in defense spending in the neighborhood of $30 billion.
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