As part of the Quadrennial Defense Review, the U.S. Army assessed its own capability: Budget reductions could render the Army at ‘high risk to meet even one major war,’“ according to a USA Today report. An Army of 490,000 is too small, notes the report, which is tasked with reductions to that level by 2017. National defense is one of the few Constitutionally authorized activities of the central government, and make no mistake, the Sequester has already taken a big bite out of military preparedness.