New 'No Invading Allies Act' Limits Presidential Military Action Against Canada, Panama, and Greenland

This bill, officially titled the "No Invading Allies Act," is a focused effort to limit the President’s power to unilaterally deploy U.S. troops for the purpose of invading or seizing territory from three specific neighbors: Canada, Panama, and Greenland. The core of the bill is simple: the President cannot order military action against these nations unless Congress first issues a formal declaration of war, passes a specific authorization bill for the action, or if the U.S. itself is under immediate attack or threat of attack (SEC. 2).

The 60-Day Clock on Emergency Spending

Beyond just restricting the action itself, the bill puts a tight leash on the money. Section 3 prohibits the use of any Armed Forces funds for such an invasion unless one of those three conditions is met. Even in the case of a national emergency—meaning the U.S. or its forces have been attacked—there’s a hard stop on the spending. If U.S. troops are introduced into fighting or a situation where they are about to start fighting, the military can only spend funds on that action for a maximum of 60 days. After that 60-day deadline, the operation stops unless Congress steps in to authorize continued funding. This is a significant check, forcing the Executive Branch to get Congressional buy-in quickly, even during a crisis response.

What Counts as 'Introducing Forces'?

For those who think this only applies to tanks rolling across borders, the bill defines "introduction of United States Armed Forces" broadly (SEC. 5). It includes situations where U.S. service members are assigned to command, coordinate, move, or simply accompany foreign military forces—whether regular or irregular—if those foreign forces are fighting or facing an immediate, serious threat of fighting. So, sending a handful of specialized advisors to coordinate a Panamanian military operation that turns into a territorial seizure would be covered under these restrictions.

The Fine Print: The National Security Loophole

Here’s where the policy gets tricky. While the bill looks like a big win for Congressional war powers and for our allies, Section 4 contains a crucial exception. The Act explicitly states that it doesn't apply to any activities that have already been officially approved and reported under Section 503 of the National Security Act of 1947. That older law is the framework that authorizes covert action and intelligence operations. What this means in practice is that while the President can’t openly order an invasion of Canada without Congressional approval, any covert or special activity against these nations that was authorized under existing national security rules is completely exempt from this new bill’s restrictions.

For busy people, the takeaway is this: The bill creates a high bar for a large-scale, overt military invasion of Canada, Panama, or Greenland, demanding Congressional oversight and a 60-day spending limit during emergencies. That’s a good thing for stability and international law. However, the exemption for existing national security authorizations creates a significant loophole, meaning that smaller, less visible, or previously approved actions against these same countries can continue without being subject to the new restrictions. It’s a step toward transparency, but not a total fix.