WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, of Butler issued a statement opposing the Obama administration’s proposed budget for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2015.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Monday proposed shrinking the Army to its smallest size in 74 years, closing bases and reshaping forces.

It includes cutting the active-duty Army to about 450,000 soldiers from a wartime peak of 570,000, which would reduce the force to its smallest size since before World War II.

Kelly said, “President Obama’s proposed budget plan is a disgrace to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces and a dangerous dishonor to the world’s most important military power which they nobly serve.

“By forcing a reduction of such historic proportions, these cuts to our national defense would send a signal of weakness and retreat to both our allies and our enemies abroad. They would severely hinder our ability to meet our responsibilities as the indispensable defender of peace and freedom around the globe ...

“Yes, fiscal responsibility demands that all facets of the federal government be assessed for potential savings. However, if implemented, the White House’s budget would not solve anything but rather invite and indeed accommodate an even more chaotic world with even more ominous challenges posed by other powers eager to exploit our decline.”