I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Bill Seeks to Protect Humanitarian Workers. On July 7, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced H.R.4303 to protect humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones. The bill would establish a Special Envoy for Humanitarian Aid Workers, create an interagency body to investigate any incident in which an aid worker is killed by a foreign military, and prohibit military aid and arms sales to any country that targets aid workers.
Bipartisan Senate Bill Looks to Strengthen US-Israeli Weapons Stockpile. On July 9, Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced S.2216 to extend a program that lets the United States store weapons and military equipment in Israel for both US and Israeli use.
House Bill Would Expedite Weapons to Abraham Accords Nations. On July 10, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced H.R.4335 to expedite arms sales to nations that normalize relations with Israel.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
SFRC Democrats Criticize Proposed Department of State Cuts. On July 10, Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee criticized in a statement the Trump’s administration’s cuts to the Department of State workforce. On July 11, the Department cut more than 1,300 staff as part of the Trump administration’s planned “reorganization” of the agency.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump and Netanyahu Discuss Resettlement of Gazans and Ceasefire Deal. On July 7, President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House to discuss the proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, plans to relocate Palestinians within and from Gaza, and Iran. On Iran, Trump told reporters that there are “scheduled talks” with the Iranian government. After the meetings, the Trump administration announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Israel to advance cooperation on artificial intelligence and energy. During his visit, Netanyahu also met with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Senate leadership. On July 13, Special Envoy Steven Witkoff told reporters that he is “hopeful” about ceasefire negotiations.
Syria Envoy Issues Warning to Lebanon Before Walking Back Comments. On July 11, US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack told The National that Lebanon risks being overtaken by Syria if Lebanon does not address the issue of Hezbollah’s weapon stockpiles. Barrack later clarified his comments, saying that he was merely “observ[ing] the reality that Syria is moving at light speed” economically and diplomatically. He added that “Syria’s leaders only want co-existence and mutual prosperity with Lebanon.”
Trump Meets with African Leaders. On July 9, President Trump met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani at the White House. The Mauritanian leader’s visit was part of Trump’s hosting of five West African leaders for a “multilateral lunch” at the White House on the same day. During his visit to Washington, DC, Ghazouani also met with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
2) Department of Education
Trump Administration Continues Scrutiny of Harvard University. On July 9, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services notified the New England Commission of Higher Education that Harvard University is in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws and therefore may fail to meet the standards for accreditation, accusing Harvard of “allowing anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination to persist unchecked on its campus.” On the same day, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would send administrative subpoenas to Harvard regarding its Student Visitor and Exchange Program, citing purported “advocacy of terrorism” among other allegations.
3) Department of State
Rubio Revokes Foreign Terrorist Designation for HTS. On July 7, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the Foreign Terrorist Organization designation for Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Department Condemns Houthi Attack. On July 8, Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce condemned a recent Houthi attack on a cargo vessel in the Red Sea.
Rubio Announces Sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese. On July 9, Secretary Rubio announced sanctions on Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories occupied since 1967.
Coordination Group to Counter Hezbollah Meets. From July 9-10, the Department of State, Department of Justice, and Europol convened the 14th meeting of the Law Enforcement Coordination Group on Countering Hezbollah (LECG), with representatives of some 30 governments taking part. The Department of State announcement stated that “the LECG was established by the United States and Europol in 2014 as a global forum to improve international coordination with governments from around the world to counter Hizballah’s terrorist and other illicit activities.”
Rubio Says Ceasefire Talks Are Close. On July 10, Secretary Rubio said that proximity talks on a Gaza ceasefire “will begin fairly soon” and expressed optimism that a deal will be reached, though he acknowledged that “some challenges” remain.
Department Approves Military Sale to Lebanon. On July 11, the Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Lebanon of A-29 Super Tucano Aircraft Sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of $100 million.
4) Department of Defense
CENTCOM Commander Visits Region. From June 30 to July 3, CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla traveled to the region and met with defense officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Jordan, and Israel.
US Strikes in Somalia Continue. On July 6 and 10, AFRICOM conducted airstrikes against the so-called Islamic State in Somalia.
Army Corps of Engineers Part of $250 Million IDF Airbase Project. On July 7, Haaretz reported that the US Army Corps of Engineers is part of a project to build a new airbase and other military facilities in Israel, totaling more than $250 million.
5) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Banking Network Benefiting Iran’s IRGC-QF. On July 9, the Department of the Treasury sanctioned 22 entities based in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey for their roles in facilitating the sale of Iranian oil that benefits the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF).
Secretary Bessent Meets with King of Jordan. On July 10, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent met with King Abdullah of Jordan on the margins of a conference in Idaho, reportedly to discuss the US-Jordan economic relationship.
