§ 123b. Forces stationed abroad: limitation on number

• (a) No funds appropriated to the Department of Defense may be used to support a strength level of members of the armed forces assigned to permanent duty ashore in nations outside the United States at the end of any fiscal year at a level in excess of 203,000.
• (b) Subsection (a) does not apply in the event of a declaration of war or an armed attack on any member nation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Japan, the Republic of Korea, or any other ally of the United States.
• (c) The President may waive the operation of subsection (a) if the President declares an emergency. The President shall immediately notify Congress of any such waiver.