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Trump troop cuts in Europe could be blocked by Congress — here’s how he might get around it
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President Donald Trump’s effort to broadly pull U.S. troops from key NATO allies over resistance to the Iran war could run into new limits imposed by Congress, but the administration may have a way around them.
Trump ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany Friday, a drawdown which will happen over the next six to 12 months, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
Lawmakers have restricted large-scale troop reductions in Europe below 76,000.
But Trump still retains broad authority as commander in chief to move forces between countries, opening the door to shifting troops away from allies like Germany, Spain or Italy without reducing the overall U.S. presence.
Pentagon orders withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany as Trump escalates feud with Merz
The warning follows pushback from allies including Spain and Italy, which have limited how U.S. forces can use key bases for Iran-related missions, highlighting tensions inside NATO as Washington presses partners for support during the escalating conflict.
Trump said Wednesday the U.S. is «studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops» in Germany, comments that came after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was «being humiliated» by Iran.
Merz downplayed the spat between Washington and Berlin in a statement Thursday.
«On all these issues, we maintain close and trusting contact with our partners, including — and especially — those in Washington. We do so in the shared transatlantic interest. We do so with mutual respect and a fair sharing of burdens.»
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said in his own statement: «The Ramstein Air Base serves an irreplaceable function for both the US and us.»
President Donald Trump’s effort to broadly pull U.S. troops from key NATO allies over resistance to the Iran war could run into new limits imposed by Congress, but the administration may have a way around them. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Asked on Thursday whether he’d consider pulling troops out of Italy and Spain, Trump said, «Yeah, probably… Why shouldn’t I?»
The comments come as both countries have resisted U.S. requests tied to operations in Iran.
«Italy has not been of any help to us,» the president said, adding that Spain has been «horrible, absolutely horrible» and citing their refusal to allow the U.S. to use jointly operated bases for missions related to the conflict.
Any major withdrawal, however, would face hurdles in Congress.
Under the latest defense bill, the Pentagon cannot reduce U.S. troop levels in Europe below 76,000 without submitting an assessment and certifying to lawmakers that the move would not harm U.S. or NATO security interests.
«The provision does not prohibit the administration from going below 76,000, but it does establish hurdles it would have to clear,» Jeff Rathke, president of the American-German Institute at Johns Hopkins University and a former State Department official, told Fox News Digital.
Key US ally blocks airspace to military flights over Iran, escalating standoff with Trump
Congress cannot directly veto a troop withdrawal, but lawmakers can impose conditions and restrict funding, effectively slowing or blocking any significant drawdown if those requirements are not met.
The provision reflects recent concern in Congress over potential troop reductions, rather than a long-standing requirement in defense legislation. The restriction applies to total U.S. troop levels in Europe, not deployments in individual countries.
President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2026, to discuss issues including recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
NATO itself does not have veto power over U.S. troop deployments, which remain a national decision, though basing agreements depend on cooperation with host countries.
The U.S. currently has about 36,000 troops in Germany, about 13,000 in Italy and around 4,000 in Spain — three of the largest American military footprints in Europe.
Germany and Italy host key U.S. bases that serve as logistics hubs for operations in the Middle East, meaning any significant drawdown could complicate efforts tied to the Iran conflict itself.
That has raised the stakes for how Trump responds to allied resistance.
Seth Jones, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the president likely has the authority to reposition or even withdraw forces, but warned that doing so raises broader questions about military strategy during an ongoing conflict.
«My issue is less the legal authority, but rather the strategic rationale behind a withdrawal — especially if it is done for political, rather than strategic, reasons,» Jones said.
He pointed to the role of key bases in Europe, including Rota in Spain, which supports rapid-response operations into North Africa, and Germany, which serves as a hub for deployments across both European and African theaters.
«The Russian threat to Eastern Europe remains serious,» Jones added, noting that some U.S. bases in Germany are positioned outside the range of certain Russian missiles and drones.
Jones also warned that relocating forces could carry significant costs and logistical challenges, adding to the complexity of any decision to scale back the U.S. presence.
The administration has pressed European allies to provide more direct support for operations tied to the Iran conflict, including broader access to bases and participation in efforts to secure key waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz.
But several countries have stopped short. Spain has imposed restrictions on how U.S. forces can use jointly operated bases, while Italy has allowed American troops to continue operating from its territory but limited how those facilities can be used for certain missions.
Germany has taken a more mixed approach, allowing operations from bases like Ramstein while publicly criticizing the administration’s strategy.
That dynamic has raised the possibility of alternatives to a full withdrawal, including shifting troops within Europe rather than reducing overall force levels.
Rathke said such a shift could avoid triggering the congressional threshold, since it applies to overall troop levels rather than deployments in specific countries.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during a joint statement at the conclusion of Italian-German government consultations in Rome on Jan. 23, 2026. (Remo Casilli/Reuters)
But he cautioned that major relocations would be difficult in practice, noting that key infrastructure — including Ramstein Air Base and the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center — cannot easily be replicated elsewhere.
«Even the most willing European country would not be able to offer that in the short term,» he said.
Even if troop levels remain above 76,000, major relocations would likely require funding and infrastructure changes that would bring Congress back into the process.
Lawmakers have stepped in before to block troop withdrawals from Europe, and a new push could trigger scrutiny on Capitol Hill, especially if it’s seen as weakening U.S. positioning during an ongoing conflict.
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A similar clash played out during Trump’s first term, when he ordered the withdrawal of roughly 12,000 U.S. troops from Germany in 2020, arguing that Berlin was not contributing enough to NATO defense. Congress imposed conditions through the annual defense bill, requiring the Pentagon to certify that any drawdown would not undermine NATO or U.S. operations. The effort ultimately stalled and was never fully implemented.
Lawmakers have not yet publicly responded to Trump’s latest comments. The White House did not return a request for comment.
nato, defense, donald trump, pentagon, war with iran
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A senior House Democrat is urging his party to push back against the growing socialist wing that’s been gaining influence in recent years.
«I don’t ascribe to any of those ideas at all, and I think that there’s very little support for those ideas,» Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., told Fox News Digital in an interview.
He compared the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to the House Freedom Caucus, a group on the rightmost flank of the House GOP, while denouncing the DSA’s use of the word «democratic» in its name — implying its ideals were mostly socialist in nature.
«Much like the Republicans have had to deal with the Freedom Caucus, the Democrats are going to have to deal with this group,» Suozzi said. «I don’t like the idea of them using ‘democratic.’ I think that we should be, as the Democratic Party, should be fighting against that and saying, ‘You know, you shouldn’t be using the word democratic … that’s us, that’s not you.»
RAHM EMANUEL WARNS DSA AGENDA DOESN’T PLAY WELL OUTSIDE ‘UPPER WEST SIDE OF MANHATTAN’
Members of the Democratic Socialists of America gather outside a Trump-owned building on May Day, May 1, 2019, in New York City. (Getty Images)
It comes as DSA-linked candidates are making significant inroads in primary elections across the country, even defeating incumbent House progressives in New York and Colorado.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS AIM TO TURN DEMOCRATIC CIVIL WAR INTO MIDTERM WEAPON
And as Republicans work to capitalize on a burgeoning civil war within the party, Suozzi warned fellow Democrats to take the perception of a DSA takeover seriously.
«I try not to waste my time on worry. I try to take action. So I just say very clearly, ‘That’s not me and that’s not us, and this is why that’s not us, and that’s why this is not me.’ And I fight back against it,» Suozzi said. «And there are a lot of Democrats who say, ‘Oh, if you look at it, it’s just a very small percentage in very deep-blue seats. And it’s not that big a deal.’ I think that’s wrong to just discount it like that. I think you just come out head-on, and take it on and say, ‘These guys are wrong. We’ve got nothing to do with them.’»
100 DAY SPRINT TO THE MIDTERMS KICKS OFF AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CLASH FOR CONTROL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Suozzi himself is part of an ever-shrinking group of moderates on both sides of the aisle. He’s also co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, which is dedicated to finding legislative solutions that both parties can get behind.
The New York Democrat is one of Republicans’ top targets in the coming midterm elections, and his November victory would be key to Democrats taking back control of the House. Suozzi’s district, anchored in the wealthy Long Island suburbs outside of New York City, was won by President Donald Trump in 2024.
Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., walks down the House steps after a vote in the U.S. Capitol on April 23, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
He told Fox News Digital that Democrats should not focus on running against Trump the person, but rather argue about his specific policy actions.
«Your grocery prices are higher, your fuel prices are high, your health insurance costs are higher. Your energy bill is higher. Your kids can’t buy a house — all these different factors. And that’s happening because of this administration,» Suozzi argued. «I think it should be less about Trump himself. You know, when I say it should be a referendum on Trump, it should be a referendum on this administration’s performance addressing the things in your life.»
Meanwhile, Republicans have argued that a Democrat-controlled House will embolden the party’s socialist wing to take control and push policies that are unpopular with Americans.
In the Empire State, for example, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, has become a prominent boogeyman for the right.
Suozzi said the tactic «would be effective» if he had not distanced himself from the socialist’s policy platform early on.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a rally in New York alongside union members and immigration advocates after the Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration can revoke protections for Haitians and Syrians. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
«He’s a very smart guy, he’s very charismatic,» Suozzi said. «I just fundamentally disagree with his positions on things.»
But it’s not enough to speak out against the socialist left, Suozzi warned.
«I started a thing called The Promise to America, where I’ve got now 10 members of Congress signed onto it. We’re in the process of getting 200 state and local officials,» he said. «We’ve identified 10 candidates, Democratic candidates, to sign the pledge that says ‘We’re capitalist, not socialist. We’re for safety, not lawlessness. We’re proud, not ashamed of America, and we’re mainstream, we’re not extreme.’ So we’ve just got to organize, we’ve got to do the work necessary.»
Suozzi is running against Republican former state lawmaker Mike LiPetri, whom Trump endorsed to flip the seat red.
republicans, democrats, zohran mamdani, politics, democratic party
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Temporal en Chile: al menos dos muertos y más de 300 afectados por las fuertes lluvias y ráfagas de 100 km/h
Al menos dos personas murieron y más de 300 resultaron afectadas debido al fuerte temporal que afecta al centro y sur de Chile, según informaron el sábado las autoridades. Las lluvias provocaron desbordes e inundaciones que mantienen en emergencia a varias comunas desde la región del Maule hasta Los Lagos.
El subsecretario del Interior, Máximo Pavez, confirmó el fallecimiento de dos personas en la región de Los Ríos. “Quisiéramos dar cuenta como gobierno del fallecimiento de dos personas en el contexto de este evento meteorológico en la Región de Los Ríos tras la caída de un árbol a su vehículo”, señaló el funcionario.
Las autoridades mantienen la alerta por las lluvias persistentes, los fuertes vientos y el aumento del caudal de los ríos. La dirección nacional del Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres (Senapred) reportó el sábado 347 personas damnificadas y 2.052 aisladas, principalmente por la interrupción de caminos tras el desborde de ríos. Además, la institución emitió 13 alertas de evacuación e informó sobre vientos con rachas superiores a 100 kilómetros por hora.
Además, se reportan 11 viviendas destruidas, 107 con daño mayor, 1.007 con daño menor y otras 572 en evaluación, según el levantamiento preliminar de los municipios.
El suministro eléctrico, aunque se mantiene para el 97,7% de los clientes a nivel nacional, presenta interrupciones en 155.891 hogares de las zonas afectadas. Tan solo en la Región del Biobío, más de 34.000 familias permanecen sin energía. En Alto Biobío, 180 personas quedaron aisladas y se reportan múltiples remociones en masa en localidades como Florida, Los Ángeles, Nacimiento, Mulchén y Santa Juana.
En cuanto al desarrollo de la emergencia, el fenómeno meteorológico provocó anegamientos, crecidas de ríos y remociones en masa en varios puntos. En Biobío, se declararon alertas rojas por desbordes en distintas comunas y en La Araucanía permanece vigente la alerta roja desde el viernes por condiciones similares. En total, permanecen activas ocho alertas rojas y once amarillas.
La directora nacional de Senapred, Alicia Cebrián, informó que las precipitaciones moderadas a fuertes continuarían durante la noche del sábado y solo comenzarán a disminuir hacia la madrugada y mañana del domingo. Añadió que sigue vigente el aviso meteorológico por tormentas eléctricas en sectores de La Araucanía y Los Ríos.
Las autoridades activaron en trece ocasiones el Sistema de Alerta de Emergencia (SAE) para las regiones de Biobío, La Araucanía y Los Lagos, principalmente con carácter preventivo para advertir sobre el aumento del caudal en diversos cursos de agua.
En La Araucanía, las comunas de Traiguén, Lumaco, Purén, Los Sauces, Angol, Renaico y Toltén concentran las principales afectaciones. Unas 22 personas permanecen albergadas y cerca de 38.000 clientes siguen sin energía eléctrica. En Los Ríos, continúan las alertas rojas para Valdivia, Los Lagos y La Unión debido a desbordes. Por su parte, en Los Lagos, están activas las alertas rojas para San Pablo —por el desborde del río Bueno— y para Osorno, a raíz de la crecida del río Rahue. En San Pablo, unas 300 personas se encuentran aisladas por el aumento del caudal.
Las autoridades insisten en la importancia de mantenerse informados a través de los canales oficiales, evitar acercarse a ríos y zonas inundadas, y respetar las instrucciones contenidas en los mensajes SAE. El subsecretario Pavez subrayó que, pese a las condiciones atmosféricas adversas, no se han registrado oficialmente tornados durante la jornada.
(Con información de AFP)
Disasters / Accidents,South America / Central America,Weather Markets / Weather
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Twenty-eight children from across Israel who lost a parent killed while serving in the country’s security forces participated in a three-week delegation to North America as part of the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization’s annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah program.
The journey began earlier this month in Chicago, where the children spent a weekend with host families before traveling to Camp Chi in Wisconsin for nearly a week of activities with American kids. They then continued to New York City, where they visited Times Square and saw The Lion King on Broadway, before heading to New Jersey. For many, it was their first visit to the United States.
FREED HOSTAGE ROM BRASLAVSKI DETAILS ABUSE, STARVATION DURING 738 DAYS IN GAZA CAPTIVITY
The IDF Widows & Orphans Organization’s annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah program delegation in NYC at Times Square. (Yiftach Moran)
«Everything is planned very carefully. The Lion King, for instance, is more than a Broadway show for them. It’s the story of an orphan who is able to honor his father’s memory and move forward because of the support of his friends. Nothing about this trip is accidental. It is deliberately designed to give them as powerful and meaningful an experience as possible,» Daniel Elbaum, executive director of the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization, told Fox News Digital.
With the United States home to the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel, the trip gave the children an opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds and levels of religious observance while, for many, experiencing international travel independently for the first time — which Elbaum said reflects their entry into the covenant with the Jewish people in a tangible and meaningful way.
Although the trip was not designed as an initiative to combat antisemitism, Elbaum said fostering a strong Jewish identity, pride in Israel and solidarity with its people are among the most important ways to help American Jews confront the world’s oldest hatred.
Memorials at the site of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, Israel, on Monday, May 27, 2024. (Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images )
«As much as I think we are doing something important for these Israeli children, whose families have paid the highest price for Israel, what we are doing for the American children is almost as important in giving them a sense of pride and connection they might not otherwise experience,» he added.
INSIDE ISRAEL’S MISSION TO TRAIN CIVILIANS TO STOP THE NEXT OCT 7-LIKE TERROR ATTACK
Founded in 1991, the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization supports more than 18,000 widows, widowers and orphans through assistance programs, rehabilitation, advocacy and legislative efforts. Since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 massacre and the ensuing war, 359 widows and widowers — including 48 pregnant widows — and 910 new orphans have joined Israel’s circle of bereavement.
Among this year’s participants was 11½-year-old Tal Goldstein-Almog from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, who was taken hostage to Gaza with his mother and two siblings on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. His father, Nadav, and sister Yam, an IDF soldier, were murdered during the attack.
Tal did not tell the other children he had been held captive until one evening, when he felt ready to share his experience.
The IDF Widows & Orphans Organization’s annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah program delegation in NYC after seeing the Lion King on Broadway. (Yiftach Moran)
«It’s not hard to tell people, but it’s not easy either. Once you’ve said it, you don’t know how others will react or treat you. That night, it felt safe to open up, and nothing has changed in the way they treat me since,» he told Fox News Digital.
The trip was Tal’s first extended journey without his family. He learned about the program from a friend from the kibbutz who also participated.
ISRAEL’S NEW EXHIBIT EXPOSES YEARS OF HAMAS TERRORIST PLANNING BEFORE OCT 7 MASSACRE
«Now that I came, I think I will continue taking part in these things after meeting new kids, feeling comfortable around them and understanding that we experienced the same things,» he said.
Tal said that since Oct. 7, the connections in his life have helped him maintain a sense of normalcy.
«My motto is that life is always going to continue,» he added. «It feels refreshing to come to a new country and experience fun things here.»
Shadan Knefiss first participated in the program as an IDF orphan and has since returned as a counselor, supporting the next generation of bereaved children. A member of Israel’s Druze community, she also joined the delegation to help translate for participants whose first language is Arabic.
«I met a lot of people here who don’t know about the Druze. We serve the country, we love our country, and we even die for it. We pay the same price as everyone else. Most terrorists in Israel are Arab, but because we speak Arabic and serve our country, it’s a bit of a twist,» she told Fox News Digital.
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Shadan Khnefiss (left) enjoying New York pizza with other participants in the IDFWO delegation. (Yiftach Moran)
Shadan became an orphan at the age of three. Her father, a Border Police officer stationed in Jerusalem, transferred to northern Israel after her brother was born with a serious skin condition so he could be closer to the family. He was killed in a car accident during his first shift there.
«This program helped me in so many ways throughout my life. The people around me have not all lost their father, so sometimes I can’t relate to them. Sometimes I want to share how I feel, but they don’t understand. This program made me feel comfortable talking about things I can’t discuss with people in my everyday life,» she said.
Noor, 13, was one of three participants whom Shadan helped during the trip. His father, Yosef Saleh, served in the IDF before joining the Israel Police, where he was killed in the line of duty in 2013.
Noor told Fox News Digital that it was his first trip to the United States. «My message to other children like us is to go on trips, meet new kids and make new friends,» Noor said.
anti semitism, israel, judaism, terrorism
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