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Brendan Cole
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A Republican congressman has introduced legislation calling for the U.S. to withdraw from NATO.
The bill, introduced by Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and co-sponsored by Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, seeks to "remove the United States" from the alliance it has spearheaded since its inception in 1949.
"NATO is a Cold War relic," Massie said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that companion legislation had been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah.
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When contacted for further comment, Massie’s office referred Newsweek to a post on X by the congressman that said “George Washington opposed NATO!” and quoted the first president’s farewell address in 1796, which said “why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground?”
Newsweek has contacted Luna, Lee and NATO for comment.
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Why It Matters
Massie's bill comes as he calls for GOP lawmakers to conclude that NATO's original Cold War purpose no longer aligned with the U.S.'s national security interests.
While the legislation is at an early stage and there is no sign the Trump administration backs it, it comes amid a debate over Washington's future role in the alliance, with the U.S. president repeatedly criticizing European members for not spending enough on defense.
Last week, the U.S. released a national security strategy that criticized Europe and suggested the Continent's security would be less of a priority for Washington, even in the face of the threat posed by Russia.
What To Know
After introducing the bill, HR 6508, that would pull the United States out of the alliance, Massie said in a statement that NATO was created to counter the Soviet Union, which collapsed decades ago. Since then, he added, U.S. participation "has cost taxpayers trillions of dollars and continues to risk U.S. involvement in foreign wars."
He said the U.S. should not be "the world's security blanket—especially when wealthy countries refuse to pay for their own defense."
Trump has said that European members in the alliance should pay at least 3.5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. In response, countries such as Germany and Poland have since greatly increased military expenditure.
Massie said that if the bill passed, the president would have to formally notify NATO of the U.S.'s withdrawal under Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
The move would prevent U.S. taxpayer funds for NATO's common budgets, including its civil budget, military budget and the Security Investment Program.
Trump has criticized Spain for backing out of the commitment to raise defense spending, but he has not said he wants to withdraw from the alliance like he did during his first term. Trump also told alliance members at a June summit that he was "committed to being their friends."
What People Are Saying
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky said in a statement on Tuesday: "We should withdraw from NATO and use that money to defend our own country, not socialist countries."
Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, commenting on Massie's post about the bill, wrote on X: "Co-sponsoring this."
What Happens Next
Massie's bill has many hurdles to overcome, not least from his Republican colleagues, who have recently pushed for stronger U.S. involvement in the alliance. Last month, Senators Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, and Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, introduced a bill for an integrated air defense system against Russian incursions with NATO allies.
Meanwhile, Massie faces a political fight ahead of the 2026 midterms due to his opposition to Trump administration policies, which has led the president to threaten to primary him. As of October, Massie had raised $2 million for the campaign.
Update 12/11/25, 11:46 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with a response from Rep. Massie's office.
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