A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is preparing legislation meant to restrict any unauthorized military action by President Donald Trump, as debate grows over his recent comments about acquiring Greenland “one way or the other.”
Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., is leading the bill with Reps. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., according to Politico.
“This is about our fundamental shared goals and our fundamental security, not just in Europe, but in the United States itself,” Keating said in a statement to the outlet.
Supporters say they’re seeking broader backing for the measure and hope more Republicans will join the effort, which would restrict funding for any unauthorized military action against U.S. allies.
In a letter to colleagues, Keating said “this legislation takes a clear stand against such action and further supports NATO allies and partners,” according to Politico.
While the measure does not name specific countries, it is widely viewed as a response to Trump’s repeated threats involving Greenland. Keating said Greenland was left out intentionally to broaden the bill’s scope. He said he has met with the Danish ambassador and the head of Greenland representation.
“This isn’t just about Greenland. This is about our security,” Keating said.
Keating argued that cutting off funding would be the clearest deterrent.
“War powers are important, but we’ve seen with Democratic and Republican presidents that that’s not as effective,” he said. “It’s hard to get around having no funds or not allowing personnel to do it.”
The push comes after the Senate advanced a bipartisan resolution last week that would limit Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela following a recent U.S. military operation to strike the country and capture its president, Nicolás Maduro. The chamber could vote on final passage later this week, though the measure’s outlook in the House remains uncertain, even with some Republican support.
On Greenland, administration officials have openly discussed options that could include military force to take the Danish territory—an action that would run headlong into NATO’s Article V, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.
“We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” Trump said on Friday. “Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor.”
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and four party leaders reiterated last week that the self-governing island has no interest in becoming part of the United States.
“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,” the leaders said, adding that Greenland’s “future must be decided by the Greenlandic people.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the leaders of Italy, Spain and Poland also signed a letter stating: “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
The debate on Capitol Hill has produced mixed reactions. Most Democrats have criticized the idea, while some Republicans have expressed interest in pursuing closer ties with the territory.
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., who introduced legislation to make Greenland the 51st U.S. state, said the best path would be voluntary.
“I think it is in the world’s interest for the United States to exert sovereignty over Greenland,” Fine told Fox News Digital.
