I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Bipartisan House Bill Seeks Repeal of Iraq AUMF. On February 21, House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced H.R.1488, which would repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) related to Iraq.
Sen. Sanders Continues Efforts to Block Arms Sales to Israel. On February 26, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced S.J.Res.25, S.J.Res.26, S.J.Res.27, joint resolutions of disapproval to block proposed arms sales to Israel. The new resolutions follow four similar resolutions that Sanders introduced the week prior.
New Legislation Targets Iran. On February 26, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) introduced H.Res.166, which condemns Iran for creating regional instability, supports internal political change, declares support for the Iranian people, and calls for the continued imposition of sanctions on the Iranian government. On February 27, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced S.Res.101, which affirms threats posed by a nuclear weapons-capable Iran.
Bipartisan House Bill Pursues Sanctions on PLO and PA. On February 27, Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced H.R.1710, which would sanction Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority officials involved in alleged “pay-to-slay transactions.” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced a Senate version of the bill in January.
Legislation Would Establish Islamophobia Monitor. On February 27, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced S.805, which would establish the Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia within the Department of State. Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) has introduced similar House legislation last January.
Bipartisan “No Immigration for Hamas Terrorists Act” Introduced. On February 27, Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced S.762, which would prohibit anyone who “carried out, participated in, planned, financed, afforded material support to, or otherwise facilitated in any way” the October 7 attacks from being admitted to the United States or being eligible for any immigration benefits.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
House Republicans Urge Trump to Support Israeli Sovereignty Over West Bank. On February 25, Rep. Tenney led a group of House Republicans in urging President Donald Trump to “strongly recognize the right of Israel to declare sovereignty over this biblically and historically significant region” (the West Bank).
HFAC Chairman Instructs Committee to Refer to West Bank as “Judea and Samaria.” On February 27, HFAC Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) reportedly instructed all committee staff to refer to the West Bank as “Judea and Samaria” in all future documents and communications.
House Democrats Call for Release of Egyptian Activist. On February 26, HFAC Ranking Member Meeks and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), co-chair of the Egypt Human Rights Caucus, called on Egypt to release civil society activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah from prison and to “end prosecutions of peaceful activists exercising their basic rights.”
3) Hearings and Briefings
House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on National Security. On February 25, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing titled “Emerging Global Threats: Putting America’s National Security First,” addressing the United Nations, the US Agency for International Development, support for Israel and the Abraham Accords, and threats posed by Iran, among other topics.
DOJ Nominee Pledges to Senate to Investigate Pro-Palestine Protests. On February 26, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for the nomination of Harmeet Dhillon to be Assistant Attorney General. Dhillon, who would lead the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, committed during her hearing to investigate pro-Palestine campus protestors.
Oversight Committee Holds Hearing Criticizing Foreign Aid. On February 26, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing titled “America Last: How Foreign Aid Undermined U.S. Interests Around the World.”
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Repeals NSM-20. On February 24, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration repealed National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20), a Biden administration policy requiring governments that receive US weapons to certify that they will use them in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Trump Letting Israel Decide on Gaza Ceasefire. On February 26, President Trump commented that the decision to move to phase two of the Gaza ceasefire agreement “has to be made by Israel.” On March 2, as the ceasefire’s first phase expired, the Trump administration reportedly supported Israel’s decision to condition the ceasefire on a new framework that would extend phase one rather than move to the second phase.
2) Department of State
Secretary Rubio Speaks with Iraqi Prime Minister. On February 25, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani about threats posed by Iran, preventing the resurgence of the so-called Islamic State, Syria, Iraq’s energy independence, and reopening the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline.
Rubio Meets with Saudi Defense Minister. On February 25, Secretary Rubio met with Saudi Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman Al Saud to discuss US-Saudi security cooperation and regional security issues.
Department Congratulates Lebanon on Government Formation. On February 27, Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce congratulated Lebanon on the February 26 vote of confidence for its new government. Bruce stated that the Trump administration will continue to partner with the new government as it enacts economic reforms and implements the cessation of hostilities agreement with Israel.
Rubio Expedites $4 Billion in Military Assistance to Israel. On March 1, Secretary Rubio signed a declaration to use emergency authorities to expedite the delivery of approximately $4 billion in military assistance to Israel, including for bulldozers and munitions (DSCA Transmittal No. 25-26 and 25-34.)
3) Department of Defense
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On February 20 and 25, and March 1, at the request of the Somali government, AFRICOM conducted airstrikes against al-Shabaab.
CENTCOM Announces Syria Strikes. On February 21 and 23, CENTCOM forces conducted strikes in northwest Syria, killing two senior leaders of Hurras al-Din, an Al-Qaeda affiliate.
CENTCOM Hosts Commanders Conference in Qatar. On February 22-23, CENTCOM Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla hosted the CENTCOM Component Commanders’ Conference at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar to discuss regional security issues. While in Qatar, Kurilla also met with Qatari military officials.
Secretary Hegseth Meets with Saudi Defense Minister. On February 24, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Saudi Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman Al Saud at the Pentagon. The officials discussed deepening military ties and countering Houthi threats and Iran’s nuclear program.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Imposes New Sanctions on Iran. On February 24, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Department of State imposed sanctions on persons and vessels involved in brokering the sale and transportation of Iranian petroleum-related products. On February 26, they announced additional sanctions on entities involved in the procurement of parts for Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle program.
Coalition to Defeat ISIS Working Group Meets. On February 28, the Department of the Treasury announced that the United States, Italy, and Saudi Arabia had convened earlier in February for the 21st meeting of the Counter-ISIS Finance Group, a working group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, with a focus on disrupting financing networks of the so-called Islamic State.
5) United States Agency for International Development
Trump Administration Fires Majority of USAID Staff. On February 23, the Trump administration announced the firing of 2,000 USAID employees and placed thousands of other USAID staff on leave. The announcement drew immediate backlash from congressional Democrats, led by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), ranking member of the SFRC, and HFAC Ranking Member Rep. Meeks.
