I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Passes Iran Sanctions Bill. On May 5, the House passed by voice vote H.R.1800, which would require the President to impose sanctions relating to Iran’s energy sector and weapons programs.
Bicameral Bills Seek to Limit Palestinian Recognition at United Nations. On May 6, Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) introduced S.1612 and H.R.3208, which would expand prohibitions on US funding to UN organizations that afford status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status to the Palestinian Authority or Palestine Liberation Organization.
House Bill Aims to Stifle Campus Protests. On May 8, Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) introduced H.R.3282, which would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase enforcement against pro-Palestine protests. The bill is companion legislation to Sen. Rick Scott’s (R-FL) “Preventing Anti-Semitic Harassment on Campus Act of 2025” (S.826).
Bicameral Bills Continue Probe into Foreign Funding in Higher Education. On May 8, Rep. Brandon Gil (R-TX) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced H.R.3284 and S.1684, which would penalize universities that do not report funding from “foreign adversaries.”
House Bill Aims to Increase Regional Cooperation. On May 8, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced H.R.3307, which would support increased US defense cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.
House Bill Targets Hezbollah in Latin America. On May 8, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced H.R.3315, which would aim to curb Hezbollah activities in Latin America.
House and Senate Resolutions Condemn Iran. On May 8, Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) introduced H.Res.398, which would urge Iran’s compliance with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Safeguards Agreement and asserts that Congress should authorize the use of US military force if Iran crosses the nuclear threshold or withdraws from the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Also on May 8, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced S.Res.212, which affirms support for the complete dismantlement and destruction of Iran’s nuclear program.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Senate Democrats Call for Probe into Human Rights Compliance. On May 6, Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) called on Comptroller General Gene Dodaro to launch a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation to ensure that foreign government recipients of US security assistance are respecting human rights and facilitating the delivery of US provided humanitarian aid, as required by law. The letter follows an April 24 GAO report concluding that the Department of State is failing to address reports of US-supplied weapons being used to harm civilians.
Democrats Express Concern Over Situation in Gaza. On May 7, Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Ami Bera (D-CA), and 94 House Democrats called on Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to require Israel to resume allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. On May 8, Rep. Nikema Williams (D-CA) and eight other Democratic lawmakers requested that Ambassador Leiter brief Congress on Israel’s plans for humanitarian aid delivery. On May 9, Representative Schneider and 27 other House Democrats urged President Donald Trump to call on Israel to restore humanitarian aid. Also on May 9, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and 29 other Senate Democrats urged President Trump to actively work toward restoring humanitarian aid and reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
3) Hearings and Briefings
HFAC Holds Hearing on Counterterrorism. On May 6, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the Department of State’s counterterrorism efforts. The hearing addressed threats from Iran, foreign military financing, and counterterrorism operations in the Middle East.
House Education Committee Continues Probe into Campus Protests. On May 7, the House Committee on Education and Workforce held a hearing titled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Anti-Semitism on American Campuses,” with three university presidents and one faculty member as witnesses.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Speaks with Erdoğan. On May 5, President Trump spoke by telephone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about the war in Ukraine, Syria, Gaza, and future visits between the leaders.
Trump Administration Discusses Gaza Aid Crisis. On May 5, President Trump said that the United States is “going to help the people of Gaza get some food.” On May 7, Special Envoy Steven Witkoff briefed the UN Security Council on US policy regarding the situation in Gaza and nuclear talks with Iran. On May 8, Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that “we are steps away” from a solution to the humanitarian crisis and alluded to a forthcoming announcement regarding the delivery of aid. On May 9, Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that a US-supported mechanism for getting aid into Gaza would take place shortly and that Israel’s involvement would be limited to providing security.
Trump Says US Strikes in Yemen Will Stop. On May 6, President Trump announced that the United States had reached an agreement with the Houthis to end US military strikes in Yemen. On May 8, Ambassador Huckabee said that “the United States isn’t required to get permission from Israel to make some type of arrangement that would get the Houthis from firing on our ships.” On May 9, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Don Bacon (R-NE), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Dan Goldman (D-NY), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ) wrote to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding clarity on the May 6 agreement and its implications for Israel.
Administration Continues Scrutiny of Higher Ed. On May 6, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services and the US General Services Administration announced an investigation into the University of Washington and its affiliates due to pro-Palestine campus protests. On May 8, the Department of Education’s Office of the General Counsel opened a foreign funding investigation into the University of Pennsylvania. Also on May 8, the Department applauded Columbia University’s efforts to crackdown on pro-Palestine protests.
US and Israeli Officials Discuss US Governance of Gaza. On May 7, Reuters reported that US and Israeli officials have held discussions about the United States overseeing a post-war transitional government in Gaza.
Trump Says He Hasn’t Decided Whether Iran Should Enrich Uranium. On May 7, President Trump told reporters that he has not decided whether he would allow Iran to enrich uranium under a new nuclear deal. Trump also said that there are only two options regarding Iran’s nuclear centrifuges: “blow them up nicely or blow them up viciously.” On the same day, Vice President JD Vance stated that the administration will allow Iran to have a “civil nuclear program” but not a “nuclear weapons program.”
Trump Meets with Israeli Minister. On May 8, President Trump met with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to discuss US negotiations with Iran and the war in Gaza.
White House Discussing Accepting Gift of Luxury Jet from Qatar. On May 11, ABC News broke the news that the Trump administration is in discussions with Qatar about accepting a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the Qatari royal family as a “gift” for President Trump to use as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office. After that, the plane, reportedly worth $400 million, would be transferred to Trump’s presidential library. In a post on his social media site Truth Social on May 11, Trump confirmed that his administration was preparing to accept the aircraft. Critics have expressed concern that the transaction would violate the Emoluments clause of the US constitution.
Trump Announces Release of American Hostage in Gaza. On May 11, President Trump announced the release of Edan Alexander, a dual US-Israel national who had been held hostage in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Trump said that he hopes “this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict.” The announcement followed a May 10 bipartisan congressional letter to Trump urging his administration to prioritize the release of the four remaining American citizen hostages in Gaza (who are believed to be deceased).
United States and Iran Hold Fourth Round of Talks. On May 11, US and Iranian officials met in Oman for a fourth round of talks regarding a nuclear deal. The sides agreed to meet again in the near future to discuss the technical components of an agreement.
2) Department of State
Department Approves $3.5 Billion Weapons Sale to Saudi Arabia. On May 2, the Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $3.5 billion.
Secretary Rubio, US Officials Meet with King Abdullah. On May 5, Secretary Marco Rubio met with Jordanian King Abdullah II in Washington DC and discussed Gaza, the West Bank, and Syria. During his visit, King Abdullah also met with lawmakers in Congress.
Trump Administration to Shut Down Palestinian Affairs Office. On May 6, Spokesperson Bruce announced that Secretary Rubio has decided to merge the Office of the Palestinian Affairs at the US Embassy in Jerusalem with other sections at the embassy.
Secretary Rubio Speaks with Saudi Foreign Minister. On May 7, Secretary Rubio spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud about President Trump’s upcoming visit to the kingdom; economic engagement; tamping down conflict between India and Pakistan, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, and Red Sea security.
3) Department of Defense
United States, Turkey Hold Joint Dialogue. On April 28, the Department of Defense and the Turkish Ministry of National Defense held a High Level Defense Group meeting in Ankara. The meeting addressed defense spending goals for NATO, Syria, Ukraine, and defense cooperation.
US Forces Launch Strikes in Somalia. On May 4 and 9 AFRICOM launched strikes in Somalia against the so-called Islamic State.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Announces Sanctions Targeting Iranian Oil. On May 8, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated for the first time a Chinese “teapot” (a small, privately owned facility) refinery and three port terminal operators for their role in the acquisition of Iranian oil. It also imposed new sanctions on companies, vessels, and captains responsible for facilitating Iranian oil shipments as part of Iran’s “shadow fleet.”
III. Judicial Branch
Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Send Migrants to Libya. On May 7, a federal judge said that the Trump administration’s reported plans to deport migrants to Libya would violate a court order stipulating that migrants be provided at least 15 days to contest deportations to places other than their countries of origin if they have reason to fear being sent there.
