Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas and one of the most influential foreign affairs hawks in Congress, has announced his retirement amid growing concern over Russia’s military escalation in Eastern Europe. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, September 14, 2025, McCaul warned that the latest developments—including Russian drones breaching Polish airspace—could put the world dangerously close to the brink of a third world war.
McCaul’s announcement comes at a fraught moment for U.S. foreign policy and for the GOP, with the party’s internal divisions over America’s role on the global stage becoming ever more pronounced. The 63-year-old congressman, who has served as both chairman of the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs committees, is part of a generation of Republicans known for their assertive stance on defense and international engagement. But as he prepares to leave Congress at the end of his term, McCaul is sounding the alarm about what he sees as a perilous shift in both global affairs and domestic political attitudes.
“We’ve never seen anything like this in recent times,” McCaul told ABC News, referring to the incursion by Russian drones into Polish airspace during the week leading up to his announcement. The incident prompted NATO to scramble jets to intercept the drones, a move that underscored the seriousness with which the alliance views any threat to its members’ sovereignty. Russia later claimed the intrusion was an error, but officials in Poland and other European countries dismissed that explanation, insisting the act was deliberate. President Donald Trump, for his part, said it “could have been a mistake.”
McCaul, however, was unequivocal in his assessment. “What I’m concerned about is that the escalation here and the temperature rising, we got to be very careful not to be on the precipice of a World War III,” he said, as reported by ABC News and Devdiscourse. His words carried extra weight given his long-standing reputation as a foreign policy hawk and his history of urging U.S. presidents to adopt a tougher posture against adversaries like Russia.
Throughout his tenure in Congress, McCaul has consistently advocated for strong U.S. support of Ukraine and NATO, often pushing back against more isolationist voices within his own party. He has also been a vocal critic of what he perceives as President Trump’s inconsistent approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I think he’s manipulating the president as a KGB officer would,” McCaul said of Putin, referencing the Russian leader’s background in Soviet intelligence. “The more Putin irritates the president, I think the better we are in terms of defending NATO and Ukraine.”
Trump’s relationship with Putin has been a source of controversy throughout his political career. He has, at various points, praised Putin and even attempted to cut off military aid to Ukraine—a move that drew sharp rebukes from hawks like McCaul. However, Trump later reversed course, backing a new increase in aid to Ukraine. In August 2025, Trump invited Putin to Alaska for discussions about a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, but the Russian president has yet to commit to any such agreement.
McCaul’s warnings about the risks of escalation are not just theoretical. The incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace represents a tangible threat to the security architecture that has underpinned Europe since the end of the Cold War. NATO’s decision to intercept the drones highlights the alliance’s readiness to defend its borders, but also the potential for miscalculation or unintended conflict. According to Devdiscourse, McCaul emphasized that such escalations could risk igniting a third world war, underscoring the need for caution at every level of decision-making.
His retirement also marks a generational shift in the Republican Party. McCaul is part of an older guard of lawmakers who have consistently supported U.S. engagement abroad and robust defense spending. In recent years, however, a younger cohort of Republicans has emerged, expressing skepticism about the wisdom and cost of U.S. interventions overseas. This internal debate has played out in public, with figures like Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska—another GOP hawk critical of Trump’s handling of Putin—also announcing their departure from Congress.
Despite his decision to step down, McCaul made it clear that he does not intend to leave the field of national security or foreign policy. “I’m looking for a new challenge in the same space that would be national security, foreign policy, but just in a different realm,” he said, as reported by ABC News. He reiterated this commitment to Devdiscourse, stating that he will remain involved in efforts to shape U.S. defense strategies, albeit from outside the legislative chamber.
McCaul’s career has been defined by his focus on security and international affairs. Before entering Congress, he worked as an anti-terrorism prosecutor, and his leadership on the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs committees positioned him at the center of key debates on America’s role in the world. His departure, along with that of at least nine other House members not seeking higher office, signals a broader transition within Congress and raises questions about the future direction of U.S. foreign policy.
The response to McCaul’s retirement has been mixed. Supporters praise his dedication to national security and his willingness to speak out against both adversaries abroad and political trends at home that he believes threaten America’s global standing. Critics, particularly those aligned with the newer, more skeptical wing of the GOP, argue that the U.S. must reconsider its commitments overseas and prioritize domestic concerns.
As tensions with Russia continue to mount and the situation in Ukraine remains volatile, McCaul’s warnings resonate far beyond the halls of Congress. The risk of miscalculation, accidental escalation, or deliberate provocation is real, and the decisions made by leaders in Washington, Moscow, and European capitals will shape the future of international security. Whether McCaul’s calls for caution and resolve will be heeded remains to be seen, but his departure marks the end of an era for a certain brand of American foreign policy.
For now, McCaul will finish his term, but his focus is already shifting to new ways of influencing the national security debate. The world, meanwhile, watches closely as the balance of power—and the balance of risk—continues to shift.
