NATO Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6508
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-09: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-06T19:58:27Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 6508 (119th Congress)
Purpose
This legislation aims to direct the withdrawal of the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by requiring the President to formally denounce the North Atlantic Treaty. It also addresses related funding and authorization requirements tied to prior law.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is named the "Not A Trusted Organization Act" or "NATO Act."
- Findings: Congress outlines a series of historical points, including NATO's origins in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, NATO's eastward expansion since 1999, concerns over Russian security perceptions, uneven defense spending by member states (referencing the 2014 Wales Pledge), and the view that U.S. membership no longer aligns with national interests.
- Denunciation Requirement: The President must provide notice of denunciation under Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law, initiating U.S. withdrawal from NATO.
- Satisfaction of Prior Authorization: The Act fulfills the congressional approval needed under section 1250A of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (22 U.S.C. 1928f) for any suspension, termination, or withdrawal from the treaty.
- Funding Prohibition: No federal funds may be used for U.S. contributions to NATO's common-funded budgets, including the civil budget, military budget, or Security Investment Program.
- Severability: If any part of the Act is ruled unconstitutional, the rest remains in effect.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill mandates a specific timeline for treaty denunciation and withdrawal, which had not been required before.
- It provides the congressional authorization previously required by the 2024 NDAA, effectively enabling executive action on NATO withdrawal without additional legislative steps.
- It introduces a permanent prohibition on funding NATO activities, altering prior appropriations practices that supported U.S. contributions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The executive branch would be required to execute withdrawal procedures and cease funding, potentially affecting the Department of State and Department of Defense operations related to NATO.
- Citizens: U.S. taxpayers would no longer support NATO budgets through federal appropriations, though broader defense spending could shift.
- International Relations: Withdrawal could alter alliances in Europe, reduce U.S. involvement in collective defense arrangements, and influence relations with European nations and Russia.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The President and executive branch agencies responsible for foreign policy and defense.
- Members of Congress, due to the bill's directive and prior authorization requirements.
- NATO member countries, particularly those in Europe.
- U.S. military personnel and defense contractors involved in alliance activities.
- American taxpayers, through changes in federal spending.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill invokes Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty for denunciation, aligning with established treaty withdrawal processes.
- It engages separation of powers by directing presidential action on treaty matters while referencing prior congressional authority requirements.
- Politically, the findings emphasize shifts in global security post-Cold War and burden-sharing issues among allies, potentially affecting long-standing U.S. foreign policy commitments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-09: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-12-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Not A Trusted Organization Act — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (6 pages)