Tinfoil thought; the latest events Covid, Heat, law changes(that allow for idiots to die, like not arresting rioters, giving pedestrians right of way over cars), soon to be a fresh bout of food shortage. They're all population reduction events.

Each one aiming to intentionally reduce population?

Intentionally release virus and kill the feeble, by giving false information, or ever changing information.
Inte.tionally.giving that virus the ability to spread diseases that shouldnt spread that easily (aids, hepatitis, cardiovascular)

Heatwave not directly caused (useful side effect of solar farms, and who would have guessed excessively big glass towers would cause lensing effects), but again not actually doing much to help the feeble and at risk.

They can cause again another food shortage , blaming heatdeath of crops.

Intentionally ruin the value of money and labor so buying essentials like food, water, heating, cooling and causes loss of life that way.

Intentionally anger the populace so they risk their life fighting in civil war.

Population culling doesn't have to be a big grandiose military event.