H.R. 6508: Not A Trusted Organization Act

This bill, known as the "Not A Trusted Organization Act" or the "NATO Act," aims to initiate the process for the United States to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Below are the main components of the bill:

Short Title

The Act is referred to by two titles: "Not A Trusted Organization Act" and "NATO Act."

Findings

The bill includes several findings regarding NATO and its relevance in current international relations:

• NATO was founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union's power and ensure collective defense among member states.
• After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, NATO expanded eastward despite past assurances that it would not do so.
• This expansion is viewed by Russia as a threat to its security, as evidenced by recent geopolitical events such as the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
• The United States has been a significant contributor to NATO's collective defense efforts, but many European members are not meeting their defense spending commitments.
• The bill argues that U.S. membership in NATO is inconsistent with its national security interests and that Europe can maintain security without U.S. engagement.

Denunciation of North Atlantic Treaty

The bill mandates that within 30 days of its enactment, the President must formally give notice of the United States' intention to withdraw from NATO as per Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Fulfillment of Authorization Requirements

The legislation also fulfills the requirements established in previous laws, ensuring that congressional authorization for withdrawal from NATO is met.

Prohibition on Funding

The bill prohibits the use of federal funds to support U.S. contributions to NATO’s budgets, which includes:

• The civil budget
• The military budget
• The Security Investment Program

Severability

If any part of the Act is found unconstitutional, the remaining provisions will still remain in effect.

Relevant Companies

None found.