Congressman John Carter, who serves of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, is cautioning against across the board cuts to defense, saying shrinking the military to its lowest numbers since World War II could put troops and the American public at risk.

Rep. Carter, who also serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, has released the following statement:

“When the bombs and rockets fall and the dust settles, it takes the human element to win wars. Reducing our land forces to insufficient levels is dangerous,” said Chairman Carter. “I am proud of the men and women in uniform, who always deserve our support. As hot as the world is right now in the Ukraine, Egypt, Syria and Iran, we need to make sure our troops not only have the equipment they need, but also training to protect them on and off of the battlefield. Less training time and fewer troops being trained is a recipe for disaster.”