House passes NDAA with Europe and South Korea troop floors
The House passed a roughly $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act that bars cutting U.S. troop levels in Europe below 76,000 and in South Korea below 28,500 without required assessments and certifications, preserves the NATO SACEUR post, includes a 4% enlisted pay raise and about $400 million in Ukraine security assistance for each of FY2026 and FY2027. The bill also adds China-focused measures — including outbound investment screening, biotech procurement bans and expanded Taiwan support — restricts pauses on Ukraine weapons deliveries and clarifies reclamation of undelivered equipment, and contains policy shifts such as repealing the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs and lifting Caesar Act sanctions on Syria.
📌 Key Facts
- The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in a recorded vote.
- The NDAA bars reducing U.S. forces in Europe below 76,000 without a security assessment and certification to Congress; the final package added limits on reducing troop levels in Europe.
- The bill restricts cuts to U.S. forces in South Korea below 28,500, requiring assurances that deterrence won’t be weakened, consultations with allies, and a regional impact assessment.
- The legislation requires the U.S. to retain the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) post; Pentagon officials told European counterparts the U.S. expects Europe to shoulder the bulk of conventional defense by 2027, will keep SACEUR while offering other senior NATO posts to Europeans, and has no near‑term plans for major troop reductions in Europe.
- The compromise confirms $400 million in Ukraine security assistance in FY2026 and $400 million in FY2027 (and clarifies conditions for reclaiming undelivered equipment), and includes constraints on pausing Ukraine weapons deliveries.
- The bill repeals the 1991 and 2002 Iraq AUMFs and lifts Caesar Act sanctions on Syria.
- It contains China-focused provisions — including outbound U.S. investment screening, limits on biotech procurement, and measures to support Taiwan — which drew an on‑record condemnation from China’s embassy and public support from Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
- Other provisions include a 4% enlisted pay raise and a measure withholding one quarter of Rep. Pete Hegseth’s travel budget pending release of strike footage.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, the total fertility rate in the EU stood at 1.38 live births per woman, down from 1.44 in 2003 and below the replacement level of 2.1.
Demography of Europe – 2025 edition — Eurostat
On 1 January 2024, 44.7 million persons born outside the EU were residing in an EU country, representing 9.9% of the EU population.
EU population diversity by citizenship and country of birth — Eurostat
In 2023, 5.9 million people immigrated to EU countries, with 4.9 million from non-EU countries.
Demography of Europe – 2025 edition — Eurostat
China's fertility rate in 2024 was 1.01 births per woman.
China's Failing Bid to Reverse Population Decline — Think Global Health
China's old age dependency ratio will more than double from 0.21 in 2024, impacting its military by reducing the pool of potential recruits and increasing economic pressures.
Fertility Decline in China and Its National Military, Structural, Economic, and Societal Implications — RAND Corporation
📰 Sources (5)
- Specifies China-focused provisions: outbound U.S. investment screening, biotech procurement bans, and Taiwan support.
- Includes on-record condemnation from China’s embassy and support from Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
- Confirms House passage with specific vote counts.
- Reiterates restrictions on reducing U.S. forces in Europe and South Korea and constraints on pausing Ukraine weapons deliveries.
- Notes 4% enlisted pay raise and withholding of a quarter of Hegseth’s travel budget pending strike footage.
- Confirms $400M in Ukraine military assistance in both FY2026 and FY2027 in the House-bound compromise.
- Adds repeals of the 1991 and 2002 Iraq AUMFs and lifts Caesar Act sanctions on Syria.
- Notes added limits on reducing troop levels in Europe in the final package.
- NDAA bars reducing U.S. forces in Europe below 76,000 without a security assessment and certification to Congress.
- NDAA places restraints on cutting troops in South Korea below 28,500, requiring assurances deterrence won’t be weakened, ally consultations, and a regional impact assessment.
- The legislation requires the U.S. to retain the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) post.
- Pentagon officials told European counterparts the U.S. expects Europe to bear the brunt of conventional defense by 2027, will keep SACEUR while offering other senior NATO posts to Europeans, and has no near‑term plans for major troop reductions in Europe.
- The bill includes $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative over two years and clarifies conditions for reclaiming undelivered equipment.