Apache helicopters at Camp Humphreys, a sprawling U.S. base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province / Yonhap
The U.S. Home of Representatives on Wednesday handed an annual protection coverage invoice that features a measure to limit the federal government from unilaterally lowering the present troop degree of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).
The decrease chamber authorized the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act for the subsequent fiscal yr — from October this yr to September subsequent yr — in a 312-112 vote, sending it to the Senate the place the invoice is anticipated to get bipartisan assist.
The invoice will grow to be legislation after President Donald Trump indicators it following the Senate approval.
The invoice says that quantities licensed underneath the act might not be obligated or expended to cut back U.S. troops in Korea, although it leaves open the door for using the funds following the certification that the USFK troop discount is within the U.S. nationwide safety curiosity, and that the motion is being undertaken solely after applicable consultations with allies, together with Korea.
Additionally with out such a certification, funds allotted underneath the act might not be expended to finish the transition of wartime operational management from the USA to Korea in a fashion that deviates from a bilateral settlement, the invoice says.
The measure to limit the USFK troop drawdown reappeared within the invoice for the primary time in 5 years. It was included within the NDAA through the first Trump administration in a transfer to assist forestall a unilateral troop drawdown.
The invoice authorizes $901 billion in army spending for the upcoming fiscal yr.
Congress passes it annually to set protection coverage and funding priorities and provides steerage on a spread of key safety issues.
