I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Unveils Appropriations Bill for National Security, Department of State. On July 15, the House Appropriations Committee marked up the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $46.218 billion, which is $13.13 billion below the FY 2025 enacted level. Among its provisions, the bill would require “consideration of a country’s cooperation on United States priorities” in determining economic assistance allocations. The bill also commits to providing at least $3.3 billion in military aid to Israel and “robust assistance to Egypt and Jordan.” It provides $23.64 billion for global health, economic and development assistance, and humanitarian programs administered by the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury, a $5.68 billion drop from FY 2025, and eliminates all funding for International Organizations and Programs, which had totaled $436.9 million.
House and Senate Push for Terrorist Designation for Muslim Brotherhood. On July 15, Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) introduced H.R.4397 to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced companion legislation (S.2293) in the Senate.
House Bill Would Strengthen US-Israel Medical Cooperation. On July 16, Reps. Randy Weber (R-TX) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) introduced H.R.4473 to deepen US-Israel collaboration in health technologies.
House Bill Seeks Review of Banking Restrictions Toward Syria. On July 16, Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY) introduced H.R.4427, which would direct a review of banking restrictions, strengthen anti-money laundering initiatives, and update sanctions with respect to the Syrian government.
House Bill Aims to Improve Security Assistance. On July 16, Reps. Sara Jacobs (R-CA) and James Moylan (R-GU) introduced H.R.4455 to improve and streamline security assistance cooperation between the Department of State and Department of Defense.
Senate Bill Scrutinizes Nonprofit Funding. On July 16, Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced S.2305, which would require nonprofits in the United States that receive funding from foreign principals in countries of concern, such as Iran, to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and would require nonprofits to “disclose the activities they use foreign funds to engage in.”
Senate Passes Rescissions Package with Big Cuts to Foreign Assistance. On July 17, the Senate passed the Rescissions Act (H.R.4), which is set to eliminate roughly $7.9 billion in already appropriated funding for foreign assistance.
House Bill Would Expedite US Arms to Allies and Partners. On July 17, Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Ryan Zinke (R-MT) introduced H.R.4481, which would expedite the delivery of US-made arms to allies and partners by expanding the Special Defense Acquisition Fund.
House Bill Seeks to Counter Iran, Hezbollah Influence in Latin America. On July 17, Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-IN) introduced H.R.4531 to require a US strategy to counter Iran and Hezbollah in Latin America.
Republicans Lead Resolution Condemning Persecution of Christians in Muslim-Majority Countries. On July 17, Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV), with the support of Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), introduced H.Res.594 to condemn “the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries across the globe.”
House Resolution Condemns “Globalize the Intifada” Slogan. On July 17, Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) introduced H.Res.588 to condemn the slogan “Globalize the Intifada.”
House Passes Defense Appropriations Bill. On July 18, the House passed H.R.4016, the Defense Appropriations Act of 2026. The bill provides for a total discretionary allocation of $831.5 billion. Of note are amendments offered by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to strike funding for the Israeli Cooperative Programs and to strike funding for Jordanian military failed by votes of 422-6 and 400-30, respectively.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
HFAC Ranking Member Criticizes Department of State Shakeup. On July 16, House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID and its transfer of USAID’s staffing and responsibilities to the Department of State. On July 17, Meeks introduced legislation (H.R.4516) to require the secretary of state to ensure that goods procured for the purpose of US foreign assistance are made available to their intended beneficiaries before their expiration.
Senate Republicans Urge European Snapback Sanctions on Iran. On July 17, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) led a group of Senate Republicans in a letter to the British, French, and German governments, urging them to trigger so-called snapback sanctions on Iran.
3) Hearings and Briefings
Congress Holds Hearings on Department of State. On July 15 and 16, the HFAC, SFRC, and House Appropriations Committee held hearings on Department of State funding and posture.
House Education Committee Continues Probe into Pro-Palestine Activism. On July 15, the House Committee on Education and Workforce held a hearing on anti-Semitism and the “role of faculty, funding, and ideology.” The hearing featured testimony from the heads of Georgetown University, The City University of New York, and University of California, Berkeley.
SFRC Holds Hearing for Mike Waltz as Representative to the United Nations. On July 15, the SFRC held a hearing for Mike Waltz to serve as Representative to the United Nations. During the hearing, Waltz expressed support for slashing US funding for UN programs, voiced support for the administration’s recent sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese, and addressed questions about his role in leaked conversations about US strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Says the United States Will Help Resolve GERD Dispute. On July 14, during a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Donald Trump said that the United States will work to resolve the dispute among Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Iran Nuclear Deal Deadline Set for End of August. On July 15, Axios reported that Secretary Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom agreed in a joint call to set the end of August as the de facto deadline for reaching a nuclear deal with Iran. On July 16, President Trump told reporters that Iran wants to continue negotiations but that he is “in no rush to talk because we obliterated their site.”
Trump Meets with Bahrain PM, Announces New Deals. On July 16, President Trump met with Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and announced a $17 billion economic partnership between the United States and Bahrain. Later, the two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Civil Nuclear Cooperation to advance peaceful nuclear cooperation.
Trump Meets Qatari Prime Minister Regarding Gaza Ceasefire. On July 16, President Trump met with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. Trump told reporters, “We have some good news on Gaza and some other things that we are working on.”
Trump Expresses Frustration to Netanyahu After Deadly Gaza Church Strike. On July 17, President Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following an Israeli strike that killed three Palestinians in a church in Gaza. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later issued an apology for the strike and said that it would investigate the incident.
2) Department of State
Huckabee Calls for Investigation into Israeli Murder of Palestinian-American. On July 15, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called on Israel to “aggressively investigate the murder of Saif Mussallet, an American citizen who was visiting family in Sinjil [the West Bank] when he was beaten to death. There must be accountability for this criminal and terrorist act. Saif was just 20 yrs old.” On July 16, Secretary Rubio said that the Trump administration was gathering additional information on Mussallet’s killing by Israeli settlers. On July 17, Amb. Huckabee reiterated his call for Mussallet’s murderers to be prosecuted.
Department Condemns Drone Attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan. On July 16, Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce condemned recent drone attacks targeting oil fields in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
Rubio Calls Israeli Strikes on Syria a “Misunderstanding.” On July 16, Secretary Rubio referred to the situation in Syria as “an unfortunate situation and a misunderstanding” in reference to Israel’s strikes across Syria following escalating violence in al-Suwayda. Rubio told reporters that the Trump administration engaged both parties and “we think we’re on our way toward a real de-escalation and then hopefully get back on track.” On July 17, Spokesperson Bruce told reporters that the United States “did not support” Israel’s strikes.
Rubio Talks with Saudi Foreign Minister. On July 17, Secretary Rubio had a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss Syria, Red Sea security, Sudan, and bilateral relations.
Huckabee Threatens to Impose Reciprocal Visa Measures on Israel. On July 17, Ambassador Huckabee wrote to Israeli Minister of the Interior Moshe Arbel to express his frustration about Israel’s reported refusal to issue collective entry visas to some American Christian organizations. Huckabee told Arbel that the Trump administration may be “forced to publicly disclose that Israel is engaging in harassment and displaying a negative stance toward these groups,” which could result in “reciprocal measures against Israeli citizens requesting US visas.”
Rubio Speaks with Djiboutian President. On July 18, Secretary Rubio spoke with Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh about security in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa.
3) Department of Defense
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On July 13, US forces conducted airstrikes in Somalia on the so-called Islamic State.
Hegseth Meets with Bahrain PM. On July 17, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Bahrain Crown Prince Al Khalifa to reaffirm the US-Bahrain defense partnership and discuss regional security issues.
Hegseth Speaks with Israeli Defense Minister. On July 18, Secretary Hegseth met with Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz to discuss the results of Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran and US support for Israel.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions “Islamic State” Financial Facilitators. On July 14, the Department of the Treasury’s Terrorist Financing Targeting Center announced designations of three financiers and operatives of the so-called “Islamic State” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and South Africa.
