A group of moderate House Republicans is threatening to withhold support for an $88 billion emergency spending package for the Iran conflict unless the Trump administration follows through on its pledge to restore thousands of U.S. troops to Poland, according to a report by Politico.
The effort is being led by Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a frequent Trump critic and member of the House Armed Services Committee. Bacon said the administration must address the removal of roughly 4,200 U.S. troops from Poland last month before he and several allies back the supplemental spending bill, which also includes funding for farm assistance and Ebola response efforts.
“We had five brigades, and we’re three now,” Bacon said. “It’s unsatisfactory. If they want my support on the supplemental, they better come up and address it.”
With Republicans holding only a narrow House majority, as few as three GOP defections could jeopardize the legislation, particularly with Democrats expected to oppose much of the package and fiscal conservatives already wary of the bill’s $88 billion price tag.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., backed Bacon’s position, saying he wants answers from the Pentagon over what he called a reversal of long-standing U.S. policy in Europe. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., said he still supports the spending bill but acknowledged Republican leaders “won’t have the votes to pass it without those two.”
The dispute reflects growing tensions between congressional defense hawks and the Trump administration’s “America First” approach to Europe. War Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced a six-month review of U.S. force posture in Europe while criticizing NATO allies for declining to join U.S. military operations during the Iran war.
The controversy began after the Pentagon abruptly canceled a planned deployment of 4,200 Army troops to Poland in May, surprising lawmakers, military officials, and the Polish government. President Donald Trump later announced he would send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland following the election of Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed, but those forces have yet to arrive.
The uncertainty has fueled concern among NATO allies already grappling with mixed signals from Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure alliance members after a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Sweden, saying troop deployments are being reevaluated as part of a global review and that allies had been consulted.
“It is well understood in the alliance that the United States troop presence in Europe is going to be adjusted,” Rubio said last month while acknowledging allies “are not going to be thrilled about it.”
The White House has indicated it intends to reduce the overall U.S. military footprint in Europe as part of its defense strategy, arguing European allies should shoulder more responsibility for their own security. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has also acknowledged Europe will likely become less dependent on American forces over time.
The White House, the Pentagon, and the office of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., did not immediately comment on the standoff. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., said he believes the administration will ultimately replace the troops. “I think it’s going to come through,” he said.

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