U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) criticized the Pentagon for abruptly halting a new deployment (or “rotation”) of 4,000 U.S. soldiers on Thursday in Poland, a NATO ally.
Bacon wrote on Friday: “The Pentagon blindsided Poland and pulled an armored brigade out of Eastern Europe while Russia is still waging war in Ukraine. This sends a weak message to Putin and is a slap in the face to our NATO allies. We need answers and accountability from DoD.”
[NOTE: The Trump administration had previously said it was cutting U.S. forces only in Germany — pulling 5,000 U.S. soldiers.]
Bacon amplified video of his exchange with U.S. Army General Christopher LaNeve, acting Chief of Staff of the Army, at a congressional hearing on Friday in front of the House Armed Services Committee.
When Bacon asked LaNeve: “Why were two Army brigades pulled out of Eastern Europe?” LaNeve replied, “Sir, I’m not on the policy side here.”
Bacon responded, “There is no good explanation,” and mentioned that another brigade in Romania was pulled.
The Pentagon blindsided Poland and pulled an armored brigade out of Eastern Europe while Russia is still waging war in Ukraine. This sends a weak message to Putin and is a slap in the face to our NATO allies. We need answers and accountability from DoD. pic.twitter.com/Coy5HXp9UH
— Rep. Don Bacon
(@RepDonBacon) May 15, 2026
When Bacon asked LaNeve, “Do we know if Poland was notified, by the Secretary?”, the answer was, “We don’t know.”
Bacon told LaNeve, “Well, I already know the answer because they called me yesterday, they did not know. They were blindsided.”
The pro-Ukrainian Congressman added, “They don’t know if this is a suspension or if it’s permanent…We should be coordinating with them, it’s an embarrassment to our country, the way this is being handled.”
Bacon isn’t the only Republican on the Armed Forces Committee who has voiced his frustration. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), the ranking member on the committee, said, “We don’t know what is going on here, but I can tell you, we’re not happy with what’s being talked about, particularly since there’s been no statutory consultation with us.”
[NOTE: LaNeve, former Senior Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, took over as acting Chief of Staff of the Army on April 2 after Hegseth dismissed CoS Gen. Randy George, who was appointed by President Biden in 2023.]