The move would reduce by half the roughly 20,000-strong personnel deployed by the Biden administration in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Anonymous insiders say top Pentagon officials are debating the future of the US contingent currently in Romania and Poland.
Originally meant to reassure eastern NATO allies facing Russian aggression, the deployment may now be cut back if the plan goes forward.
Final details are still under discussion, NBC News reported.
European officials warn that a US drawdown could stoke fears of abandonment among Washington's longtime allies, for whom Moscow remains a mounting threat.
The Russians would "assess a downsizing of US forces as a weakening of deterrence, and it will increase their willingness to meddle in various ways across the spectrum in Europe," said Seth Jones, a senior vice president with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, as cited by NBC News.
Roughly 84,000 US soldiers serve across Europe, including 10,000 in Poland, 37,000 in Germany, and 13,000 in Italy.
Pentagon officials believe downsizing the Eastern Europe presence would free funds for advanced weaponry and innovative defense capabilities, especially amid budget cuts.
Meanwhile, newly established or planned US facilities in Poland and Romania, including missile defense sites, would likely remain, according to NBC News.
(jh/gs)
Source: nbcnews.com, PAP