The Donald Trump administration has taken concrete action to cut the number of U.S. troops stationed in Europe. It has halted deployment plans for major units that were slated for Europe and ordered some personnel who had already arrived to return home.
According to CNN on the 15th (local time), U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week canceled the deployment plans for part of the U.S. Army force scheduled for a rotational deployment to Europe and ordered additional withdrawals. First, the Europe deployment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team under the 1st Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army, which was to be stationed in Poland, the three Baltic states, and Romania, was halted. The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, known as the so-called "Black Jack Brigade," fought in World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq War. Some personnel had already arrived in Europe but will return to the United States. The unit is reported to number about 4,700.
The dispatch of a long-range missile specialist artillery battalion that was slated for Germany was also canceled. The unit is a key force responsible for operating long-range rockets and missiles and had planned to be permanently stationed in Germany. Its related command organization was also reportedly ordered to withdraw from Europe.
The move is seen as an extension of President Trump's push to reduce U.S. forces in Europe. After German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the U.S. response to Iran "humiliating" recently, Trump publicly criticized North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members for hiding behind the United States while enjoying only security benefits. Trump then reaffirmed the plan to scale back deployments to Europe and scrapped the Biden administration's plans to station Tomahawk cruise missile and Dark Eagle hypersonic missile units in Germany.
An internal U.S. Department of Defense document obtained by CNN reportedly cited as reasons for the cuts that "European countries did not do enough when the United States needed them" and that "Germany's recent remarks were inappropriate and unhelpful." Some see it as a de facto "punitive reduction" aimed at European allies. They say Trump's pressure on Europe to shoulder more of its own defense burden is becoming more overt.
There are currently about 38,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany, and the total number in Europe is about 80,000. The Trump administration already released in early May that it would withdraw about 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany.
Concerns are being voiced in the U.S. Congress across party lines. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Mike Rogers, the chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a joint statement that "Germany has recently increased defense spending significantly and actively supported U.S. military operations," expressing that they are "deeply concerned" about the cuts. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen also criticized the move as "a very shortsighted decision," saying it could send the wrong signal to Russia, China and Iran.
There are currently about 80,000 U.S. troops stationed in Europe, and under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026, if troop levels are reduced below 76,000, the Ministry of National Defense must submit a detailed strategy report to Congress. The possibility of a clash between the administration and Congress is growing over the Trump administration's push to cut troop levels. The possibility of a clash between the administration and Congress is growing over the Trump administration's push to cut troop levels.