US Planning to Scale Back Troop Cuts in Europe

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration plans to reduce U.S. military forces in Europe but by less than was envisioned under President George W. Bush.

A senior U.S. official says that the administration plans to remove only one of the four deployable combat units currently assigned to Europe. An earlier plan developed by former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld called for removing two units.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the Defense Department has not yet made the announcement. The cuts would come mostly in Germany. The plan would remove one of two combat units currently assigned to Germany in 2015. The administration hasn't decided which unit would be withdrawn, but expects to in coming months.