Chairman Rogers and Chairman Wicker issue joint statement on reports of potential combatant command changes

March 19, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL03), the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, responded to press reports suggesting that the United States might soon change its entire combatant command structure, withdraw from NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) command structure, and cancel modernization plans for U.S. Forces Japan:

"U.S. combatant commands are the tip of the American warfighting spear," Rogers and Wicker said. Therefore, we are very concerned about reports that claim DoD 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. 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."

The two chairmen were responding to an NBC News report, claiming that the Trump administration is considering abandoning NATO's command in Europe. Since the end of World War II, the United States has appointed its four-star general as commander of NATO.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-intends-to-abandon-us-command-of-nato-forces-in-europe-nbc-news/ar-AA1BeuU3?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is conducting a major restructuring of the US military's combatant commands and headquarters. NBC news reports that one of the plans under consideration would include the United States relinquishing its role as Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli is the current commander. He is also the head of the US European Command, where he has overseen the support for Ukraine.

Trump has insisted that European countries spend more of their money on defense.

Mike Rogers has represented Alabama's Third Congressional District since he was first elected in 2002.