Pentagon continues with troops drawdown despite new law

The US military has continued with its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Department of Defense told Reuters on Monday, despite a new law prohibiting further reductions without the Pentagon sending Congress an assessment of the risks.

“Currently, no new orders have been issued which impact the progression of the conditions-based drawdown expected to reach 2,500 (troops) by January 15, 2021,” it said in a statement.

Reuters reported that the Pentagon’s action will likely anger Republican and Democratic lawmakers opposed to further troop cuts and renew concerns about the outgoing Trump administration’s disdain for Congress, even in its waning days.

“If they are continuing the drawdown, that would be a violation of the law,” said a congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The White House declined to comment.

Reuters stated that halting the drawdown could jeopardize the US-backed Afghanistan peace process which came after the February agreement last year. As part of the agreement, the Taliban wants a complete US troop withdrawal by May in return for the insurgents fulfilling security guarantees.

In November, the Pentagon said it would reduce the number of US forces in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 by mid-January.

But this month Congress enacted a defense policy bill – overriding a veto by President Donald Trump – that bars using funds appropriated for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to pay for a drawdown below 4,000 US troops until acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller submits to Congress a “comprehensive, interagency assessment of the risks and impacts,” Reuters reported.

It is unclear how many troops have been moved out of Afghanistan since the law passed.

One defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US troop level is already close to 3,000.

The legislation also requires a risk assessment before the number of US troops can be reduced below 2,000.

The Pentagon said it was “evaluating” the impact the legislation would have on US troop strength in Afghanistan.