US Senate defense policy bill calls for maintaining USFK troop level

WASHINGTON — A Senate defense policy bill for fiscal year 2026 includes a ban on the use of funds to reduce the number of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) troops below the current 28,500, its text showed Thursday amid concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration could seek a USFK troop cut. Posted on Congress's website, the Senate bill — the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — contains the ban for the first time in five years. It also reaffirms the "sense of Congress" on reinforcing the South Korea-U.S. alliance by maintaining the current USFK troop level. The bill comes amid speculation that the Trump administration could consider a USFK reduction and call on South Korea to increase its defense spending for its own defense, as Washington prioritizes deterring the "pacing threat" from an increasingly assertive China. "Amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act may not be obligated or expended to reduce the total number of members of the Armed Forces permanently stationed in or deployed to the Republic of Korea below 28,500, or to complete the transition of warWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times