Pentagon budget cuts will affect defense secretary's office

WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is putting his office budget on the chopping block after ordering the Pentagon's top brass to cut theirs by 20 percent.

George Little, the Pentagon's press secretary, said Hagel is sharing the pain by cutting his own budget by a like amount, CNN reported Wednesday.

The cuts go into effect in October 2014 and will last until 2019.

Much of the savings will come from a cut in the number of people working for Department of Defense leaders.

"Early estimates indicate that the total savings could be in a range of $1.5 [billion]-$2 billion," Little said.

He added that the cuts will be implemented even if Congress lifts sequester-level budget caps.