Final NDAA sets troop floors in Europe, retains SACEUR, and moves to House vote
The final NDAA, now headed to a House vote, bars reducing U.S. forces in Europe below 76,000 without a security assessment and congressional certification and restricts cuts in South Korea below 28,500 unless deterrence won’t be weakened, allies are consulted and a regional impact assessment is completed, and it requires retention of the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) post. The compromise also funds Ukraine — including $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (reported as $400 million in both FY2026 and FY2027) — clarifies conditions for reclaiming undelivered equipment, and adds measures such as repealing the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs and lifting Caesar Act sanctions on Syria.
📌 Key Facts
- The final NDAA bars reducing U.S. forces in Europe below 76,000 without a security assessment and certification to Congress.
- The bill places restraints on cutting U.S. troop levels 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 bear the brunt of conventional defense by 2027, will keep the SACEUR post while offering other senior NATO positions to Europeans, and has no near‑term plans for major troop reductions in Europe.
- The compromise confirms $400 million in Ukraine Security Assistance in both FY2026 and FY2027 and clarifies conditions for reclaiming undelivered equipment.
- The bill adds repeal of the 1991 and 2002 Iraq AUMFs and lifts Caesar Act sanctions on Syria.
- The final NDAA package is moving to a House vote as a must‑pass defense policy bill.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, Black Army officers were promoted at a rate 8.3% lower than White officers, Hispanic officers 3.3% lower, Asian-American officers 2.5% lower, and Native American/Alaska Native officers 7.3% lower compared to White officers.
Racial disparity in Army officer promotions has improved since 2020, study finds — Stars and Stripes
As of 2025, approximately 4,240 US service members, or 0.2% of those in uniform, have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
Number of Trans Troops Far Lower Than Estimated, Pentagon Figures Show — The New York Times
In 2023, there were 14 million unauthorized immigrants living in the US, accounting for 4.2% of the total US population of 333 million, with 4.4 million from Mexico (31%), 2.6 million from Central America (19%), and per capita rates showing higher representation from Latin American countries compared to their global population share.
Record 14 Million Unauthorized Immigrants Lived in the US in 2023 — Pew Research Center
From 2020 to 2024, the European Union's population increased by about 1 million due to net immigration, with non-EU born residents rising to approximately 13% of the total population of 449 million in 2024, reflecting demographic changes primarily from immigration from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Demography of Europe – 2025 edition — Eurostat
📰 Sources (3)
- 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.