Congressmen Urge Secretary Hegseth to Reconsider NATO Force Reductions
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Don Bacon (R-NE) have sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, expressing concern over reported plans to reduce U.S. contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Europe. The congressmen stated that such reductions would undermine allied security and embolden Russia. They highlighted that since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the United States has maintained an increased military presence in Central and Eastern Europe to deter potential Russian aggression against NATO allies. However, the U.S. European Command reportedly announced plans to scale back forces, including a 30 percent cut to fighter jets, a decrease in reconnaissance planes, and the withdrawal of aerial refueling tankers. The bipartisan group urged Secretary Hegseth to reconsider these proposed cuts and requested a detailed outline of the Department of Defense's plans to uphold U.S. commitments to its allies. 
