The Republican chairs of the Home and Senate Armed Companies committees issued a joint assertion on Wednesday criticizing the concept of the U.S. drastically altering its army combatant command construction, saying they “will not accept” these modifications with out coordination with Congress and different companies.
The assertion marks one of many first main cases of Republican lawmakers pushing again on President Trump in his second time period.
Home Armed Companies Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Senate Armed Companies Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) responded to an NBC Information article printed Tuesday that mentioned the Pentagon is contemplating giving up its position as NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe, or SAUCER, as a part of restructuring of instructions and headquarters.
“U.S. combatant commands are the tip of the American warfighting spear. Therefore, we are very concerned about reports that claim [the Defense Department] is considering unilateral changes on major strategic issues, including significant reductions to U.S. forces stationed abroad, absent coordination with the White House and Congress,” the 2 chairs mentioned.
“We support President Trump’s efforts to ensure our allies and partners increase their contributions to strengthen our alliance structure, and we support continuing America’s leadership abroad. As such, we will not accept significant changes to our warfighting structure that are made without a rigorous interagency process, coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Staff, and collaboration with Congress. Such moves risk undermining American deterrence around the globe and detracting from our negotiating positions with America’s adversaries,” Rogers and Wicker mentioned.
The assertion indicated that the chairs of the highly effective committees, who oversee the crafting of annual army and protection authorization payments, might use the facility of the purse and different legislative instruments to fight such a change, ought to the Trump administration transfer ahead with it.
The U.S. has had a four-star normal oversee NATO army operations in Europe for 75 years, NBC reported. The present SAUCER, Military Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, can also be the pinnacle of U.S. European command and has overseen assist to Ukraine.
