Senator Mike Lee Introduces Bill to Withdraw U.S. from NATO, Calling It “Not A Trusted Organization”

Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, has introduced a controversial bill to withdraw the U.S. from NATO, calling the alliance a “Not A Trusted Organization” (NATO). Lee argues that NATO has outlived its usefulness and accuses European countries of not paying their fair share. Meanwhile, he claims American taxpayers are left to shoulder much of the financial burden.

The “Not A Trusted Organization Act”

The bill, officially called the Not A Trusted Organization Act, directs the U.S. President to invoke Article 13 of the NATO treaty and notify the North Atlantic Council of America’s intent to exit the alliance. The bill would also block U.S. funding for NATO, which Lee believes no longer serves the country’s interests.

Lee, a long-time critic of NATO, argues that the alliance was created to counter old threats, which are no longer relevant today. He believes it is time for the U.S. to stop funding NATO, especially since many European nations do not meet defense spending expectations.

“America’s withdrawal from NATO is long overdue. NATO has run its course—the threats that existed at its inception are no longer relevant,” Lee said. “If they were, Europe would be paying their fair share instead of making American taxpayers pick up the check for decades.”

Uncertain Prospects for the Bill

This bill was introduced following a two-day NATO summit in The Hague. It comes amid ongoing debates about defense spending and America’s role in global security. President Donald Trump has historically questioned NATO’s value. However, he recently expressed support for NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause, which promises collective defense if a member is attacked.

Despite Lee’s strong stance, the bill faces an uphill battle in Congress. In December 2023, lawmakers passed a bipartisan law requiring Senate approval or a full act of Congress for any president to withdraw from NATO. Additionally, previous legislation in 2019 blocked Trump from attempting a NATO exit without congressional backing.

Burden-Sharing and Other Proposed Legislation

Lee, along with Senators Rand Paul and Marsha Blackburn, has introduced two other bills: the Allied Burden Sharing Report Act and the NATO Burden Sharing Report Act. These measures aim to assess how much each NATO country is contributing to the alliance’s collective defense. The goal is to highlight those who are paying their fair share and those who are not.

“These bills will shine a light on who’s paying their fair share—and who’s not,” said Blackburn.

Trump’s Changing Stance on NATO

Trump, who has long been skeptical of NATO, made waves at the NATO summit in The Hague, where he supported NATO’s defense spending targets, including a 5% defense spending commitment. He also reaffirmed his commitment to Article 5 of NATO, which emphasizes mutual defense.

Trump’s support for NATO has led to uncertainty regarding the future of Lee’s bill, as some allies, including those in his own party, may now see NATO’s value more clearly.

“If I didn’t stand with it, I wouldn’t be here,” Trump said of NATO’s Article 5 clause during the summit.

What’s Next?

While Lee’s bill is unlikely to pass easily, given past bipartisan support for NATO and Trump’s shift toward backing the alliance, its introduction highlights ongoing tensions about the U.S. role in NATO. It remains to be seen whether this will spark more debate or lead to a reversal in U.S. foreign policy. However, the bill represents a significant shift in how some lawmakers view the alliance’s future.

Do you think the U.S. should leave NATO, or is the alliance still necessary for global security?

More…

• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/us-to-withdraw-from-nato-lawmaker-introduces-bill-labels-it-not-a-trusted-organization/articleshow/122114333.cms?from=mdr
• https://www.newsweek.com/nato-us-withdraw-senator-mike-lee-republican-effort-2090914
• https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2025/06/25/nato-summit-sen-mike-lee-wants-us