U.S. Army Europe and Africa announced on Wednesday that the U.S. military is reducing the number of troops deployed in Romania, which is located on the eastern flank of NATO, as President Donald Trump’s Department of War shifts priorities toward the defense of the American homeland.

In a Wednesday press release, U.S. Army Europe and Africa confirmed that the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division will be redeployed “as scheduled to their Kentucky-based home unit without replacement.” Officials noted that the redeployment of the troops is part of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s “deliberate process to ensure a balanced U.S. military force posture.”

“This is not an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lessened commitment to NATO and Article 5. Rather this is a positive sign of increased European capability and responsibility,” U.S. Army Europe and Africa stated. “Our NATO allies are meeting President Trump’s call to take primary responsibility for the conventional defense of Europe. This force posture adjustment will not change the security environment in Europe.”

U.S. Army Europe and Africa added, “The U.S. maintains a robust presence throughout the European Theater, and maintains the ability to array forces and capabilities to meet objectives in the Theater and support U.S. priorities, including President Trump’s commitment to defend NATO allies.”

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Romania’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed on Wednesday that it had been informed regarding “the withdrawal of some of the American troops deployed on NATO’s Eastern Flank” and described the move as part of the U.S. military’s reassessment of the “global posture of US military forces.” The Romanian Ministry of National Defense announced that roughly 1,000 U.S. troops will continue to be deployed in the country.

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense explained that the reduction in the number of U.S. troops in the country is due to the “new priorities” of the Trump administration and that the decision “took into account the fact that NATO had strengthened its presence and activity on the Eastern Flank.”

According to CNN, the U.S. troops returning from deployment in Europe will be coming from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said they “strongly oppose the decision not to maintain the rotational U.S. brigade in Romania.” The Republican lawmakers claimed that the move “sends the wrong signal to Russia at the very moment President Trump is applying pressure to force Vladimir Putin to come to the table to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine.”

The lawmakers added, “We are seeking clarification from the Pentagon on how it plans to mitigate the impact of this decision on NATO’s deterrence and defense posture and whether they coordinated with Allies to minimize these consequences.”