I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Lawmakers Continue Pressure on Campus Protests and Higher Ed Funding. On April 7, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) introduced H.R.2686, which would fine colleges and universities that violate students’ civil rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, citing concerns about alleged anti-Semitism on campus. On April 9, Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) introduced legislation (S.1317 and H.R.2778), which would require universities to disclose gifts from “foreign adversaries,” specifically Iran. On April 10, Rep. Malliotakis introduced H.R.2866, which directs the Secretary of State to revoke the visas of students who have engaged in “anti-Semitic activities.”
House Resolution Encourages Strengthening of Abraham Accords. On April 9, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced H.Res.320, which would encourage the expansion of the Abraham Accords, with a focus on peace and tolerance education.
House Bill Would Review Real Estate Held by Persons Connected to Iranian Government. On April 9, Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) introduced H.R.2754, which would require the US government to review real estate purchases or leases near US military installations by foreign persons connected to the Iranian government.
Senate Bill Would Exempt Israel and Ukraine from Tariffs. On April 9, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced S.1364, a bill to exempt Israel and Ukraine from the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Lawmakers Push Administration on US Liability for Israeli War Crimes. On April 7, Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning that Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza “raises legal questions about US officials’ liability for potentially aiding and abetting war crimes.”
Huckabee Confirmed as Ambassador to Israel. On April 9, the Senate confirmed Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel by a vote of 53-46.
Lawmakers Affirm Need for Authorization for Strikes in Yemen. On April 9, Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Val Hoyle (D-OR) led House Democrats in a letter to President Donald Trump expressing concern over the lack of congressional approval for military strikes in Yemen.
SFRC Ranking Member Urges Action on Sudan. On April 10, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, marked the second anniversary of the civil war in Sudan and called on the Trump administration to resume foreign and humanitarian assistance to the country and work to resolve the conflict.
Lawmakers Express Concern About Situation in the West Bank. On April 10, Representative Jayapal and Senator Welch led a letter to the Trump administration expressing alarm about escalating violence in the West Bank, especially following Israelis’ violent assault on Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, and urged the reinstatement of sanctions against individuals who perpetrate violence.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Meets with Netanyahu. On April 7, President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. During their meeting, President Trump revealed that the United States would be holding talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program. Additionally, the leaders discussed the situation in Gaza and Israeli relations with Turkey, with Trump praising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Finally, the leaders discussed tariffs on imports from Israel. On April 9, President Trump reiterated that the United States would consider military strikes on Iran if negotiations fail and that Israel would take “a leading role” in any such operation.
Trump Administration Announces More Grant Freezes for Higher Ed. On April 8, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration froze more than $1 billion in funding for Cornell University and $790 million for Northwestern University amid investigations into alleged anti-Semitism and accusations of racial discrimination related to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
Trump Executive Order on Weapons Sales Process. On April 9, President Trump issued an executive order to improve efficiency and reduce regulations pertaining to the foreign defense sales system.
DHS to Review Social Media of Aliens for “Anti-Semitism.” On April 9, the Department of Homeland Security announced that US Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin “considering aliens’ anti-Semitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests.”
Trump Administration Holds First Discussions with Iran About Nuclear Program. On April 12, Special Presidential Envoy Steven Witkoff conducted nuclear talks in Oman with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Per the White House readout, the first round of talks was “very positive and constructive.” Both sides will meet again on Saturday, April 19, reportedly in Rome.
2) Department of State
Department Spokesperson Says Administration Working on Gaza Ceasefire. On April 8, Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the Trump administration continues to work on a ceasefire in Gaza “specifically, so we can get aid into the area.”
Department Aware of Israeli Killing of Palestinian American in West Bank. On April 8, Spokesperson Bruce said that the Department is aware of the recent killing of a Palestinian American teenager, Amer Rabee, by Israeli forces in the West Bank. Bruce said that there is an Israeli investigation into the incident and that initial reports from Israel are that the killing was part of a “counterterrorism act.”
Secretary Rubio Meets with Moroccan Foreign Minister. On April 8, Secretary Rubio met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to discuss regional cooperation, the Abraham Accords, and expanding US-Morocco commercial ties. Rubio also reaffirmed US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and its Autonomy Proposal.
Secretary Rubio Meets with Saudi Foreign Minister. On April 9, Secretary Rubio met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss Gaza, Sudan, and Saudi-hosted negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
United States Restores Some Food Aid to Region. On April 9, Reuters reported that the Trump administration had reversed its recent cutoffs of emergency food aid to the World Food Programme in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Somalia, but is maintaining them in Yemen.
Lenderking Meets with Bahraini Officials. From April 9-10, Senior Bureau Official for Near Eastern Affairs Tim Lenderking met with Bahraini officials to discuss maritime and regional security issues.
Deputy Secretary Meets with GCC Secretary General. On April 10, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem al-Budaiwi to discuss the US-GCC partnership and to coordinate on regional issues.
3) Department of Defense
CENTCOM Commander Meets with Military Officials from Six Middle East Countries. From April 1 to 5, CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla met with military officials from Israel, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen to discuss regional security issues and military-to-military cooperation.
Secretary Hegseth Speaks with Saudi and Egyptian Defense Ministers. On April 7 and 8, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke with Saudi Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman and Egyptian Minister of Defense General Abdel-Meguid Saqr to discuss defense cooperation and regional security, including Houthi threats to maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Announces New Sanctions Targeting Iran. On April 9, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on five entities and one individual with ties to Iran’s nuclear program. On April 10, OFAC announced sanctions on a network tied to the transportation of Iranian petroleum. The Department of State announced concurrent sanctions.
