Congress Moves to Block Pentagon from Cutting U.S. Troops in Europe and South Korea in 2026 NDAA
The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), finalized by House and Senate negotiators and released Sunday evening, aims to maintain current U.S. force levels in Europe and South Korea. The bill prohibits reducing U.S. forces in Europe below 76,000 without an assessment and congressional certification that such a reduction would not harm U.S. or NATO security interests. Similarly, troop reductions in South Korea below 28,500 are restrained, requiring demonstration of deterrence viability, confirmation of allied consultations, and justification regarding national security and regional impact.
The NDAA also codifies the position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) in statute, ensuring that a U.S. general continues to fill this role. While no near-term major troop reductions are planned, the U.S. plans to retain the SACEUR post, though it may offer other senior NATO positions to European nations. Europe is also expected to take on more defense responsibilities by 2027.
The bill authorizes $400 million for Ukraine security in the next year and an additional $400 million over two years for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. An included amendment addresses reclaiming military equipment not yet delivered, permitting this only when urgently needed.
The NDAA is moving quickly toward a House vote, aiming to reach the president's desk before Christmas. This action follows past indications of contemplated force drawdowns, including the Army’s plan to pull a rotating brigade from Romania back to the United States.
