WASHINGTON — Top defense officials may be reconsidering the drawdown of U.S. forces in Europe, but for now they’re sticking with the plan.
Congressional leaders and Pentagon officials said they have not made or requested any major changes in the plans to relocate forces from overseas, nor do they see any such moves in the near future.
Lt. Col. Karen Finn, a Defense Department spokeswoman, said a general shift of forces to southern and eastern Europe is progressing on schedule.
“The department remains committed to its plans for global defense posture realignment in Europe and elsewhere,” she said. “Many of these planned posture changes are already well under way.”
Members of the House Armed Services Committee receive periodic updates on that progress, and both Republican and Democrat leaders on the panel say they have not been told of any imminent changes in the plans.
A spokeswoman for Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said he would not be opposed to re-examining the issue, especially in light of the decision to build up the Army and Marines over the coming years.
Both lawmakers and defense planners had anticipated a drop in the total number of military when the Europe drawdown was first proposed.
But the committee does not have any hearings or special briefing sessions planned on the topic, nor any proposals for a slowdown in the relocation schedule.
