Multiple outlets report that the Trump administration plans to halt or phase out U.S. security assistance programs for European countries bordering Russia, including ending requests for the Baltic Security Initiative—roughly $220 million annually for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—and reevaluating Section 333 training and equipping authorities, alarming NATO allies and U.S. lawmakers amid the war in Ukraine. The Financial Times first reported the shift on Sept. 4, 2025; officials said European diplomats were informed last week, though many defense leaders and members of Congress said they had not received formal notification, adding to confusion noted in follow-up reporting by AP and Reuters on Sept. 4–6. The White House frames the move as coordinated and consistent with pushing Europe to shoulder more defense costs, echoing a broader reprioritization and concurrent NATO commitments at the June 2025 Hague summit to increase spending, even as critics warn of reduced deterrence credibility against Moscow. Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Don Bacon, called the cuts “disastrous,” while analysts note Congress could still attempt to restore funds in appropriations debates.