With combat operations in Afghanistan ending this year , President Barack Obama announced he plans for almost 10,000 American troops to remain in the country in 2015 if the Afghan government signs a security agreement . `` We will bring America 's longest war to a responsible end , '' Obama said in the White House Rose Garden in detailing the strategy to have virtually all U.S. forces out of Afghanistan by the end of 2016 -- shortly before his presidency ends . The announcement offered something to proponents and opponents of a continued U.S. military engagement there after more than 12 years of war -- the longest in American history . Obama called for 9,800 U.S. troops to stay in Afghanistan after the end of 2014 , along with some allied forces . The number would get cut roughly in half by the end of 2015 , and a year later -- less than a month before Obama leaves the White House -- the U.S. military presence would scale down to what officials described as a `` normal '' embassy security contingent . A senior administration official told CNN that after 2016 , the number of U.S. service members in Afghanistan providing embassy security and engaging in cooperative security efforts with the host government and military would likely number about 1,000 . Currently , the United States has 32,000 troops there . Maintaining any forces beyond the end of 2014 -- when Washington and its NATO allies will formally halt combat operations -- depends on Afghanistan signing the security agreement rejected by outgoing President Hamid Karzai , Obama said Tuesday . Two candidates facing each other in next month 's run-off election to choose Karzai 's successor have indicated they will sign the security pact , Obama said . `` It 's time to turn the page on more than a decade in which so much of our foreign policy was focused on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq , '' he declared . Three conservative Republicans who generally oppose any reduction in the U.S. military 's global posture criticized Obama 's announcement as `` a monumental mistake and a triumph of politics over strategy . '' `` The President came into office wanting to end the wars he inherited . But wars do not end just because politicians say so , '' said a statement by Sens . John McCain of Arizona , Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina . Obama , however , said Americans have learned it was harder to end a war than to start one , adding that `` we have to recognize Afghanistan will not be a perfect place , and it is not America 's responsibility to make it one . '' The role of U.S. troops in Afghanistan after this year will be aimed at `` disrupting threats caused by al Qaeda , supporting Afghan security forces and giving the Afghan people the opportunity to succeed as they stand on their own , '' he said . Tony Blinken , Obama 's deputy national security adviser , told CNN that the United States will spend about $ 20 billion on the continued military presence in Afghanistan after 2014 . Asked if such a cost was worth it , Blinken replied : `` We want to complete the job that we started . '' At the same time , he said `` we ca n't be in an endless war posture . '' In a call with journalists before Obama 's announcement , senior administration officials said the intention was to show continued international support for Afghanistan as it transitions to its new elected government . The successful first round of voting showed Afghanistan forces now were capable of providing security , the officials said . The United States had as many as 100,000 forces in Afghanistan at one point . In all , more than 2,300 American troops have been killed in that war , launched in the weeks after the September 11 , 2001 , al Qaeda terror attacks on the United States . Obama 's announcement came the day before he delivers a foreign policy speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point , New York . On Tuesday , he indicated the shift in resources permitted by ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would allow increase counter-terrorism assets in Africa and elsewhere . Until now , Obama 's administration has been reluctant to assign a number to American troop strength in Afghanistan once the combat mission ends . House Republican leaders reacted to Obama 's announcement with encouragement for a continuing mission , but skepticism over the rigid time line . `` I 'm pleased the White House met the military 's request for forces in Afghanistan . However , holding this mission to an arbitrary egg-timer does n't make a lick of sense strategically , '' said Rep. Howard `` Buck '' McKeon , the California Republican who chairs the House Armed Services Committee . House Speaker John Boehner , who has pushed for reaching a bilateral security agreement with Afghanistan to keep U.S. troops there , said he welcomed the plans for a continuing mission . `` It has been my long-standing position that input from our commanders about the conditions on the ground should dictate troop decisions , and not an arbitrary number from Washington , '' Boehner added in a statement . Boehner : Do n't repeat Iraq mistakes in Afghanistan .
White House official : cost of extended military deployment $ 20 billion . President Obama announces increased troop levels for Afghanistan . Republican leaders announce what they call a fixed timetable . There are roughly 32,000 American forces in Afghanistan now .