Senators Propose Tying Trump’s Hands on Troops in Europe

The Senate Armed Services Committee is moving forward with a version of the sweeping defense policy bill that would boost Ukraine aid and impose new restrictions on a president’s ability to reduce U.S. troop levels in Europe.

The panel’s fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, approved by the committee on Thursday, pushes back on President Donald Trump’s efforts to pull back on military support for Europe.

It would require the chair of the Joint Chiefs and the commander of U.S. European Command to conduct an independent risk assessment of any proposed changes to troop levels in Europe. The bill would also require the Pentagon to notify Congress and provide an assessment of the impact on NATO deterrence and defense requirements at least 120 days before reducing permanent or rotational troop deployments in a NATO country.

The bill would prohibit the removal of any of the Army’s prepositioned stocks from Europe, which are strategic stores of heavy equipment, munitions, and medical materiel in climate-controlled facilities. It would also bar the U.S. from relinquishing command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe position.

“We’re trying to make sure that the Pentagon is communicating that clearly to both us and to our allies,” said a congressional official granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

The Trump administration ordered 5,000 troops to be pulled from Germany in May following a row with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war with Iran. A few weeks later, Trump said he would send 5,000 additional troops to Poland.

While the Trump administration has said troop reductions in Europe have long been planned and coordinated with allies, the moves inflamed Republicans focused on defense who argue that reducing America’s military footprint in Europe undermines NATO and signals weakness to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Congress already included provisions in the 2026 defense authorization law that bar a president from drawing down U.S. forces on the continent below 76,000 without coming to Congress first. There are currently between 80,000 and 85,000 U.S. service members deployed to European posts, though only 65,000 are permanently assigned there.

The NDAA measure approved on Thursday would also extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through 2029 and increase authorized funding to $750 million, from $400 million this year. It would also bar the U.S. from recognizing Russian sovereignty over internationally recognized Ukrainian territory and direct continued intelligence support for Ukraine’s military operations.

Ukraine is making gains on the battlefield and in Washington, where congressional support showed new signs of life. This month, the House passed bipartisan legislation authorizing new security assistance, loans for weapons purchases and added sanctions on Russia — despite opposition from Republican leaders and the White House.

The Senate Armed Services Committee also moved to protect the U.S. military presence in South Korea, where about 28,500 troops are stationed, amid renewed pressure from the Trump administration on Seoul to increase its contribution to host U.S. troops.

The bill would bar reductions of U.S. military posture on the Korean Peninsula or a change in wartime operational control over the Combined Forces Command until the defense secretary certifies to Congress that such action is in the national interest.

It also directs the chair of the Joint Chiefs and commanders of Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea to conduct an independent risk assessment of any such changes.

The bill must still pass the Senate and be reconciled with a House version, which cleared the House Armed Services Committee this month. Lawmakers are expected to negotiate a final compromise package this year before sending the legislation to Trump.