Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas announced he will retire from the House and warned that what he described as a recent escalation by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine risks drawing the United States and its allies toward a wider conflict.
McCaul made the announcement Sunday and told ABC News that the incursion this week by Russian drones into Polish airspace — which prompted NATO to scramble jets — underscored his concern that "we got to be very careful not to be on the precipice of a World War III." Russia said the intrusion was an error; Poland and other European governments said they had no doubt it was intentional. President Donald Trump said the incident "could have been a mistake."
A former anti-terrorism prosecutor who has chaired both the House Homeland Security Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, McCaul, 63, has been one of the Republican Party's most prominent hawks on foreign policy. He said he will finish his current term but will not seek reelection next year, and described plans to pursue a new challenge in the national security and foreign policy arena outside Congress.
McCaul has long pressed the White House to adopt a tougher posture toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's war in Ukraine. He told ABC News he believes Trump is beginning to recognize that Putin "is not negotiating in good faith," and said of the Kremlin leader, "I think he’s manipulating the president as a KGB officer would. The more Putin irritates the president, I think the better we are in terms of defending NATO and Ukraine."
Trump has at times praised Putin and moved to limit U.S. military aid to Ukraine, though he has reversed course and supported new increases in assistance. The president invited Putin to Alaska last month for talks about a possible cease-fire; Putin has not committed to a halt in the fighting.
McCaul's retirement makes him one of at least 10 House members who have said they will leave the chamber without seeking higher office. The list includes Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, another voice among GOP hawks who has grown publicly critical of Trump's approach to Russia.
In his remarks, McCaul framed the current moment as unusually dangerous and emphasized the need for careful diplomacy and coordination with NATO allies. He said the recent airspace violation by Russian drones represented a level of escalation not seen in recent times and that the United States and its partners must guard against miscalculation.
McCaul's departure removes a longstanding voice for interventionist Republican policy from the House at a time when foreign policy debates are sharply contested within the party. He has been a leading advocate for robust U.S. support for Ukraine and for strengthening NATO deterrence measures. Congressional debates over continued aid for Ukraine have split Republicans between those who argue for sustained backing of Kyiv and a growing faction skeptical of deeper U.S. involvement abroad.
He said he will continue his work on national security issues through the remainder of his term and seek to remain engaged on foreign policy after leaving Congress. The timing of his retirement announcement sets up a contested primary in his Texas district for the 2026 election cycle and adds to the wider turnover in the House ahead of next year's midterms.
McCaul's statements are the latest in a series of heightened warnings from Western officials about the risk of incidents that could broaden the war in Ukraine. NATO officials have said the alliance will defend member airspace; European capitals have lodged protests with Moscow over the incursions. U.S. lawmakers from both parties have called for close consultation with allies to reduce the risk of escalation.
As he departs the House, McCaul urged vigilance and greater unity among U.S. leaders and partners, saying that confronting what he described as Kremlin aggression requires both firmness and careful management to avoid wider conflict.