I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Bill to Restore Judicial Review of TPS Terminations. On June 29, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) introduced H.R.9523, which would amend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) statute to explicitly permit judicial review of decisions terminating TPS designations. The bill responds to the Supreme Court’s June 25 ruling that allowed the Trump administration to terminate TPS for Syrians living legally in the United States.
House Bill Targets Judicial Enforcement of Sharia Law. On June 30, Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) introduced H.R.9567, which would prohibit federal courts and adjudicative bodies from enforcing foreign or religious laws, including Sharia law, when they “conflict with the Constitution or federal law.”
House Again Rejects Tlaib’s Lebanon War Powers Resolution. On June 30, the House rejected H.Con.Res.108, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), which would direct the president to remove US forces from hostilities in Lebanon within seven days. The measure failed 189-235, with two Republicans voting in favor and 22 Democrats opposing it. The resolution notes that “nothing in this concurrent resolution may be construed to prevent or limit security cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces or the protection of diplomatic facilities.”
On June 4, the House had rejected a separate Lebanon war powers resolution introduced by Tlaib that lacked those exceptions, with 117 Democrats voting against it. Tlaib described the latest measure as a way to end US support for Israeli forces, stating that the United States “is currently engaged in illegal and unauthorized hostilities supporting the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.” Meanwhile, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, supported the resolution, but said that he was unaware of US forces engaged in hostilities in Lebanon, adding that the measure would prevent their deployment without congressional authorization.
House Resolution Seeks to Block Arms Sale to Turkey. On July 2, Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced H.J.Res.200, which would provide for congressional disapproval of a proposed foreign military sale of certain defense articles and services to Turkey. Titus wrote that she introduced the resolution because Turkey “has made repeated threats of military action against NATO allies and other partner nations throughout the Middle East.”
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Bipartisan Senators Call for End to Violence in Sudan. On July 1, Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Chris Coons (D-DE) called for an end to the violence in Sudan amid a Rapid Support Forces military buildup, drone strikes, and attacks on civilian infrastructure in El-Obeid.
Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge Syria’s Removal from Terrorism List. On July 1, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the administration to remove Syria from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. The lawmakers argued that the legal basis for the designation no longer applies following the fall of the Assad regime and that maintaining it hinders Syria’s economic recovery, counterterrorism cooperation, and stability.
Bipartisan House Lawmakers Urge Trump against Selling F-35s to Turkey. On July 2, Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) led eight other lawmakers in a letter to President Donald Trump “expressing deep concern over any effort to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey,” citing Ankara’s possession of the Russian S-400 system and actions they said undermine regional stability and US interests. The letter comes after Trump’s June 24 suggestion of a possible F-35 sale to Turkey.
House Democrats Condemn Israeli Military Engagement in Lebanon. On June 29, Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) led 75 other House Democrats in a letter to Secretary Rubio expressing concern over Israeli military operations in South Lebanon, including violations of the April 16 ceasefire and the mass demolition of civilian homes and infrastructure. The lawmakers urged the administration to investigate whether US-origin weapons are being used in violation of US law and arms transfer agreements, and to halt relevant arms transfers if violations are confirmed, while supporting the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces in disarming Hezbollah.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
United States and Iran Hold Indirect Talks in Qatar; Trump Hails Progress. On June 30, Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Qatar for talks with mediators about the implementation of the deal to end the war in Iran. The next day, President Trump hailed the progress of the indirect US-Iran talks in Doha, saying that “as far as things are going, the denuclearization of Iran is moving along well.” The same day, Vice President JD Vance said that Trump “maintains a lot of options,” including resuming airstrikes against Iran.
On July 2, Trump said during a CNBC interview that he thought Iran had “agreed to just about everything we need” in negotiations toward a final accord.
United States Reportedly Warned Iran of Israeli Threats to Negotiators. On July 2, the New York Times reported that US officials asked regional intermediaries to warn Iran earlier this year that Israel might try to assassinate Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Trump Says Netanyahu Requested White House Meeting. On July 4, President Trump told Axios that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had requested a White House meeting that could take place as early as next week, after Trump returns from the NATO summit scheduled for July 7 and 8. Trump added that the two “get along very good” and that Netanyahu “knows who the boss is.”
2) Department of State
Rubio Meets with German Foreign Minister. On June 29, Secretary Rubio met with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to discuss safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz and preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Rubio Meets with Libyan National Army Deputy Commander. On June 29, Secretary Rubio met with Eastern Libya-based Libyan National Army Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar to discuss efforts to unify the country’s military, economic, and political institutions, as well as potential US-Libyan cooperation to promote unity and peace in Libya.
United States Signs Agreement for Permanent Embassy in Jerusalem. On July 1, the United States and Israel signed an agreement allocating land for a permanent US embassy complex in Jerusalem.
3) Department of Defense
CENTCOM Leads Regional Security Dialogue in Bahrain. On July 1, CENTCOM led a Bahrain-hosted security dialogue with senior military officials from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The officials discussed regional security, defense cooperation, and the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting marked the first participation by Syrian and Lebanese military leaders in a US-led regional defense conference.
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On July 3, US forces conducted an airstrike against al-Shabab in Somalia.4) Department of the Treasury
TFTC Designates Hezbollah Financial Institutions and Officials. On June 30, the member states of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center announced joint designations targeting key components of Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure, including five entities and 16 individuals. The targets included Hezbollah institutions al-Qard al-Hassan and Bayt al-Mal, as well as senior officials affiliated with them.
