On March 20th, the Asahi Shimbun website reported that as a plan to cut funding, the US Department of Defense may suspend the expansion plan of the US military in Japan. According to reports, it is estimated that stopping the plan would save $1.18 billion. Last July, in order to strengthen the command and control cooperation between the Self Defense Forces and the US military, Japan and the United States reached a consensus on the restructuring of the US military presence in Japan and the United States. NBC reported based on interviews with officials from the Department of Defense and internal sources that the US military is considering reassessing the situation. One of the options is to suspend the expansion plan of the US military stationed in Japan. However, some believe that withdrawing the plan would pose a "political risk" of deteriorating US Japan relations and could weaken US command and control. In the Trump administration, the "Government Efficiency Department" led by Musk has been demanding that various departments cut funding. According to CNN, the above-mentioned document was developed by officials from the Department of Defense this month. According to reports, the "2+2 talks" between the heads of the US Japan diplomatic and defense departments held in July last year reached a consensus on the restructuring of the US military presence in Japan and the establishment of a new "Unified Military Command" to promote cooperation between the Self Defense Forces and the US military. Japan will launch the "Integrated Operations Command" for unified command of its land, sea, and air self-defense forces later this month. If the US suspends its plan to restructure its US military presence in Japan, it may cause a stir between the US and Japan. US Defense Secretary Hercules will visit Japan at the end of this month to hold talks with Japanese Defense Minister Motonari Nakatani, and it is estimated that the issue of restructuring the US military in Japan will be discussed at that time. The US Department of Defense did not respond to inquiries from Asahi Shimbun regarding this report. (New Society)