Trump rips up Biden memo aimed at Israel on rights abuses using US arms
President rescinds National Security Memorandum-20, which had required reports to Congress on how weapons being used, as part of progressive bid to curb military aid to Jerusalem
The Trump administration has rescinded a Biden-era order aimed at Israel that required the government to report potential violations of international law involving US-supplied weapons by allies, two US officials and a source familiar with the decision said on Monday.
Signed by Biden last year, National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20) required all countries that receive weapons from the US to commit in writing that they will not use them to target civilians or restrict humanitarian aid.
Countries were already required to commit to using the arms in line with international law, but the concept of a written commitment was new as was the memo’s directive for the State Department to report to Congress on the mater.
Biden agreed to sign the memo amid pressure from progressive Democrats who specifically were looking to curb US military assistance to Israel, arguing that it was being used to harm civilians in Gaza.
The State Department report issued several months after the memo avoided reaching a determination that Israel was indeed misusing US security assistance, infuriating the progressive lawmakers behind NSM-20.
The May 2024 report said Israel may have breached international humanitarian law but that US officials were unable to identify specific instances of breaches that harmed civilians due to the chaos of war.
The Trump administration would have been required in the coming months to report to Congress its own assessment of Israel’s conduct.
The Washington Post cited an order issued by White House national security adviser Michael Waltz on February 21 repealing NSM-20. Reuters was not able to independently confirm the existence of the order, but two US officials and a source familiar with the move said they had been told the directive was revoked.
The State Department referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
US Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, a key proponent of congressional oversight of US arms sales, said the decision to revoke the memo was “shameful.”
“It’s a disservice to our national security, to global human rights and to our standing around the world,” Van Hollen said in a statement.
“This move also undermines American taxpayers’ right to ensure the use of their dollars aligns with our laws and our national interest,” he added. “It’s another clear example of Trump’s blatant indifference to American values. This is not America first – it’s America in retreat.”
After returning to office on January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that called for a review of all national security memoranda issued under Biden.
He also reversed a decision by Biden to freeze a shipment of 2,000-lbs bombs to Israel, which had been in place since last spring due to concerns that the IDF would use them in densely populated areas and cause unnecessary civilian harm.
The Times of Israel Community.