US Federal Senate Bill SB2174

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/25/25
• Refer: 6/25/25

Caption

NATO Act

Summary

SB 2174, titled the “Not A Trusted Organization Act” or the “NATO Act,” would require the President to give formal notice of denunciation of the North Atlantic Treaty within 30 days of enactment, which would initiate the United States’ withdrawal from NATO. The bill’s findings argue that NATO’s original collective-defense purpose is no longer relevant, that NATO expansion has worsened tensions with Russia, and that the United States should no longer bear the primary burden of European security. It also states that U.S. membership in NATO is inconsistent with U.S. national security interests. In addition to directing withdrawal, the bill would prohibit the use of federal funds for U.S. contributions to NATO’s common-funded budgets, including the civil budget, military budget, and Security Investment Program. It also declares that the bill satisfies a prior statutory requirement in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 that Congress authorize any withdrawal from the treaty. The measure includes a severability clause to preserve the rest of the act if any part is struck down.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would significantly alter U.S. foreign policy and defense obligations by triggering withdrawal from NATO and cutting off federal funding for NATO’s shared budgets. It would affect the President’s treaty-withdrawal authority, the United States’ obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty, and appropriations used for alliance participation. The bill would also interact with existing law by purporting to satisfy the congressional-authorization requirement in 22 U.S.C. 1928f for withdrawal from the treaty.

Sentiment

The available context shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented legislative debate or roll-call sentiment in the provided materials. Based on the bill text itself, the sponsor’s position is strongly anti-NATO and frames withdrawal as consistent with U.S. national security interests and burden-sharing concerns. Because the bill was merely read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, its current procedural posture suggests it had not yet advanced to a stage where broader support or opposition was recorded.

Contention

The central point of contention is whether the United States should remain in NATO at all. Supporters of the bill, as reflected in the findings, argue that NATO is outdated, that European allies should bear more of the defense burden, and that continued U.S. membership risks entangling the United States in European security commitments. Opponents would likely argue that NATO remains a core U.S. security alliance, that withdrawal would weaken deterrence against Russia, and that the bill could undermine long-standing transatlantic commitments and alliance credibility. The bill’s claims about NATO expansion, Russia, and burden-sharing are the main substantive issues likely to divide policymakers.