Congress Limits President's Authority on Troop Withdrawals in Syria, Europe, South Korea

President Trump faces opposition from the Washington establishment as Congress debates the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes provisions limiting his ability to reduce U.S. troop deployments in Syria, Europe, and South Korea. Despite the U.S. mission in Syria ending in 2019, about 2,000 troops remain stationed there, exposing them to unnecessary risks, and President Trump has advocated for their withdrawal. Critics argue that Congress seeks to maintain global military commitments despite America's high national debt and overstretched forces, undermining Trump's America First approach. Separately, revelations about the January 6th, 2021 Capitol protest show more than 250 undercover FBI agents were present, some assigned roles like crowd control for which they were unprepared, raising questions about the FBI's political biases and their role in the events. Congressman Thomas Massie persistently questioned Attorney General Merrick Garland about the presence and actions of these agents, highlighting unresolved concerns about government narratives and justice for those charged. These developments illustrate ongoing tensions between executive intentions on foreign policy and military engagement, as well as controversies over accountability and transparency related to the January 6th incident.