I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Bill Would Prevent Funds for Lebanese Army. On March 5, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) reintroduced H.R.1844, which would prohibit US assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces until the Lebanese government rescinds its recognition of Hezbollah.
House Bill Seeks to Recategorize Turkey within Department of State. On March 5, Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced H.R.1890, which would reclassify Turkey, currently categorized under the Department of State’s European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau, to the Near Eastern Affairs Bureau. The lawmakers seek to show that “the United States recognizes Turkey’s turn to the Middle East and no longer sees Turkey prioritizing its relationship with Europe.”
Senate Bills Target Higher Education. On March 7, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced legislation to withhold federal funding from colleges and universities that are deemed to have enabled violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, particularly with regard to pro-Palestine protest activity.
On March 10, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) announced that he introduced S.937, which would block pro-Palestine protesters convicted of a crime from receiving federal student loans and loan relief. Cotton also introduced legislation to “tax the largest university endowments to help pay down the national debt and secure our southern border.” Senator Cotton stated, “American taxpayers shouldn’t underwrite the tuition of criminal, pro-Hamas protesters who deface their college campuses, disrupt classes, and endanger their fellow students.”
On March 12, Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced S.982, which would require higher education institutions receiving federal funding to disclose their policies for responding to “civil disturbances” on campus, particularly pro-Palestine demonstrations.
House Bill Pushes for Review of Iran Sanctions. On March 10, Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) introduced H.R.2012, which would provide for congressional review of sanctions on Iran.
Sanders Continues Effort to Block Arms Sale to Israel. On March 10, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced joint resolutions of disapproval (S.J.Res.32, S.J.Res.33, S.J.Res.34, S.J.Res.35) regarding proposed military sales to Israel.
House and Senate Bills Aim to Block Arms to the United Arab Emirates. On March 11, Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced legislation (H.R.2059 and S.935, respectively) to prohibit arms sales to the United Arab Emirates due to its support for the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.
House Bill Seeks Sanctions on Houthis. On March 11, Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) introduced H.R.2052, which would impose additional sanctions on Yemen’s Houthis.
Senate Resolution Calls on Security Council to Enforce Darfur Arms Embargo. On March 12, Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced S.Res.126, which calls on the United Nations Security Council to increase enforcement of the Darfur arms embargo and extend it to all of Sudan.
Senate Agrees to Resolution Affirming No Role for Hamas in Gaza. On March 13, the Senate unanimously passed S.Res.72, a resolution that affirms that Hamas cannot retain control in Gaza, calls on the US President to target Hamas and Iranian funding sources, and reaffirms support for Israel.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Gaza Protesters Detained Following Trump Executive Order. On March 9, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detained, reportedly revoked the green card of, and is seeking to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University who was active in the school’s student pro-Palestine protest movement. A senior DHS official told National Public Radio that Khalil was detained for “promoting this antisemitism activity…and supporting a terrorist type organization.” However, the Trump administration has not brought charges against Khalil or specified what if any laws he allegedly violated.
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Khalil’s arrest “is the first arrest of many to come.” Republicans have broadly supported Khalil’s detention while Democrats offered varying degrees of pushback. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) led the response from 14 progressive lawmakers in denouncing the arrest in a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. More than 100 Democratic lawmakers also expressed concern in a separate letter to Secretary Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. On March 14, DHS officials arrested Leqaa Kordia, originally from the West Bank, who was reportedly involved with the student pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia.
Education Department Threatens 60 Schools Over Palestine Protests. On March 10, the Department of Education sent letters to 60 colleges and universities “warning them of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,” citing concerns with campus protests in support of Palestine.
Witkoff Presents US Proposal for Gaza Ceasefire Extension. On March 13, Axios reported that US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steven Witkoff presented an updated proposal for extending the Gaza ceasefire by several weeks in return for additional hostage releases by Hamas and Israel’s resumption of humanitarian aid to the Strip. Witkoff traveled to Qatar on March 12 for meetings with Egyptian, Israeli, Jordanian, Qatari, and Saudi officials. Witkoff reportedly also delivered a letter to the Emirati government to transmit to the Iranian government proposing direct US-Iran nuclear talks. On March 16, Witkoff said that Hamas had “essentially disavowed” the Trump administration’s bridging proposal for a long-term peace resolution, which includes a demilitarized Hamas, adding that he “hope[s] they reconsider.”
United States Exploring Relocation of Gazans to Africa. On March 14, the Associated Press reported that US and Israeli officials have reached out to Somalia, the Somali breakaway region of Somaliland, and Sudan regarding their willingness to accept Palestinians forcibly displaced from Gaza. On March 16, Special Envoy Witkoff noted that the Trump administration is exploring “all alternatives and options that leads [sic] to a better life for Gazans.”
2) Department of State
Ambassadors to MENA Region Taking Shape. The Trump administration’s nominations for ambassadorial positions to the MENA region include Mike Huckabee for Ambassador to Israel, Amer Ghalib as Ambassador to Kuwait, Duke Buchan as Ambassador to Morocco, Tom Barrack as Ambassador to Turkey, and Michael Issa as Ambassador to Lebanon. Remaining appointees from the Biden administration are Ambassador to Yemen Steve Fagin, Ambassador to Tunisia Joey Hood, Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg, Ambassador to Oman Ana Escrogima, Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Martina Strong, Ambassador to Algeria Elizabeth Moore Aubin, and Ambassador to Bahrain Steven Bondy. The administration has not yet announced ambassadorial nominees to Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, or Syria.
Secretary Rubio and National Security Advisor Waltz Meet with Saudi Crown Prince. On March 10, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. Their discussions focused on Red Sea security, Syria, and the reconstruction of Gaza. The Secretary also thanked the Crown Prince for hosting peace talks relating to the war in Ukraine.
Rubio Calls US Talks with Hamas a “One-Off.” On March 11, Secretary Rubio said that recent US direct talks with Hamas were a “one-off” and that Steven Witkoff will be the administration’s “primary vehicle” for handling future negotiations.
Secretary Rubio Welcomes Syrian Deal with SDF. On March 11, Secretary Rubio welcomed an agreement between the interim Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate northeast Syria into a unified state. Rubio reaffirmed US support for a political transition that ensures “credible, non-sectarian governance as the best path to avoid further conflict.”
3) Department of Defense
SDF Captures IS Leader in Syria. On March 6, the SDF, enabled by CENTCOM, captured a leader of the so-called Islamic State.
US Strikes in Yemen Kill Dozens. On March 15, US forces launched large-scale airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, reportedly killing at least 31 individuals including civilians. Writing on Truth Social, President Trump said that strikes against Houthi targets will continue unless the group ceases its threats to commercial shipping on the Red Sea. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth added that continued US strikes will be “unrelenting.” Trump also threatened to hold Iran “fully accountable” for its support of the Houthis, a statement echoed by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The March 15 strikes followed a statement a day earlier from the G7 that affirmed the US and G7 commitment to protect trade including along the Red Sea.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Aims to “Shut Down” Iran’s Oil Sector. On March 6, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said that the United States “will close off Iran’s access to the international financial system” and will “shut down Iran’s oil sector and drone manufacturing capabilities.” On March 13, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Mohsen Paknejad and additional entities that have aided Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors. The Department of State announced concurrent sanctions.
Treasury Secretary Speaks with Saudi Finance Minister. On March 10, Secretary Bessent spoke with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan about US-Saudi collaboration and threats posed by Iran.
Treasury Sanctions Swedish Criminal Network Tied to Iran. On March 12, OFAC sanctioned the Foxtrot Network, a Sweden-based transnational criminal organization, and its leader Rawa Majid. The group is accused of having ties to the Iranian government and orchestrating an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm in January 2024.
