Rep. Panetta Authors Bipartisan NATO Shield Act to Require Congressional Approval Before U.S. Withdrawal From NATO

September 24, 2026 Press Release Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and introduced the NATO Shield Act , bipartisan legislation that would establish a statutory framework requiring Congressional approval before any President can initiate the withdrawal of the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02) is co-leading the legislation. The legislation builds on Rep. Panetta’s bipartisan efforts to secure a provision in the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to establish Congressional limits to prevent unilateral U.S. withdrawal from NATO. The NATO Treaty currently provides a process through which a member may withdraw following one year’s notice. The NATO Shield Act builds on Rep. Panetta’s previous NDAA efforts in order to ensure that any decision by a President to begin that process is subject to Congressional oversight and approval. “NATO is one of the most consequential and successful security alliances in the history of the world,” said Rep. Panetta. “It is the foundation for security not just in Europe, but also throughout the globe. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to have a voice in any decisions that weaken NATO. At a time of growing threats and global instability, the bipartisan NATO Shield Act would strengthen existing guardrails and ensure that any effort to withdraw the United States from NATO is subject to Congressional oversight and approval.” “I am grateful to co-lead the NATO Shield Act to ensure that America’s commitment to our NATO allies remains strong and any decision that weakens this critical alliance receives the full consideration of Congress. NATO is essential to achieving Peace Through Strength, deterring war criminal Putin, and ensuring Dictators with Rule of Gun who threaten freedom and democracy around the world do not invade Democracies with Rule of Law,” said Rep. Wilson. The legislation treats withdrawal from NATO as a matter directly connected to Congress’s constitutional war powers, as abandoning the Alliance would fundamentally alter U.S. deterrence, military deployments, force posture, and strategic commitments around the world. Specifically, the NATO Shield Act would: Require consultation with Congress before a President initiates any action to withdraw the United States from NATO. Require a formal report to Congress within 48 hours of any withdrawal action, modeled on the reporting framework of the War Powers Resolution. Automatically terminate withdrawal actions after 30 days unless Congress affirmatively approves continued withdrawal. Prohibit the use of federal funds to implement an unauthorized NATO withdrawal. Establish expedited Congressional procedures allowing Congress to quickly consider resolutions approving or disapproving a withdrawal. Provide for judicial review, including standing for Members of Congress to seek enforcement of the statute in federal court. NATO remains a central component of U.S. and European security cooperation. A United States withdrawal would have significant implications for the Alliance’s collective defense posture and for America’s ability to coordinate with European allies in responding to military, cyber, and gray-zone threats. The ongoing conflict involving Iran and the broader instability in the Middle East further demonstrate the importance of maintaining close coordination among the United States and its allies. Escalation in the region could affect European security through disruptions to energy supplies and maritime commerce, cyberattacks, attacks on European interests, and additional migration pressures. Full text of the bill is available here . ### Issues : National Security