US lawmakers from both major parties have strongly criticized the Pentagon after it abruptly canceled the planned deployment of thousands of American troops to Poland, a key NATO ally in Central Europe bordering Ukraine. The anger follows confirmation that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has halted a routine rotational deployment of about 4,000 US soldiers from Texas. JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The troops were scheduled for a nine‑month tour in Poland, which plays a central role in NATO’s military presence on the alliance’s eastern flank. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the decision followed a “comprehensive, multilayered process” and was not sudden. But several lawmakers rejected that explanation. “This is baloney,” Don Bacon, a Republican Congressman, wrote in an X post responding to Parnell. “For starters Poland was not notified. Senior leaders contacted me yesterday saying they were blindsided.”
This is baloney. For starters Poland was not notified. Senior leaders contacted me yesterday saying they were blindsided. And… I’ve learned EUCOM did NOT say there was minimal risk by cancelling the deployment. This was a foolish and embarrassing course of events. https://t.co/mQxO2q3Jjn— Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) May 15, 2026
