I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Bill Seeks to Restrict Foreign Land Purchases Near Sensitive Sites. On July 16, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced H.R.4454, to prohibit Iran, as well as China, Russia, and North Korea, from purchasing land near sensitive US agencies and strategic sites.
HFAC Advances Arms Sales Reforms. On July 22, the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) marked up and advanced six bills out of committee concerning the foreign military sales process and strengthening the US defense industrial base.
House Bill Seeks PTSD Research Cooperation Between Israel and United States. On July 23, Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) introduced H.R.4655 to support increased cooperation on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) research by Israel and the United States.
Senate Democrats Seek Investigation into Death of Americans in the West Bank. On July 24, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 28 other Senate Democrats urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi to conduct a “credible and independent” investigation into the July 11, 2025, killing of American citizen Saifullah Kamel Musallet in the West Bank by extremist Israeli settlers. The letter highlighted a lack of accountability for the deaths of other American citizens killed by Israeli military forces or settlers in the West Bank since January 2022, including Shireen Abu Akleh, Omar Assad, Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, Mohammad Ahmed Mohammad Khdour, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, and Amer Mohammad Saada Rabee. “The Netanyahu government has failed to hold anyone accountable for any of these… killings of Americans and the United States government has failed in its responsibility to protect American citizens overseas and demand justice for their deaths,” the senators wrote.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
House Judiciary Committee Probes Funding to Alleged “Anti-Netanyahu” and “Terrorist” Groups. On July 17, the House Judiciary Committee released a memorandum alleging that the Biden administration used taxpayer funds to support US and Israeli NGOs that have been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies. The memo claims that the NGOs used US funding “both directly and indirectly…to support anti-Netanyahu organizations and terrorist groups.”
Shaheen Condemns UAE Repatriation of Afghans. On July 23, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) criticized the United Arab Emirates for returning at least two Afghan refugee families to Afghanistan, where they are allegedly at risk of persecution by the Taliban.
Lindsey Graham Pushes for Israel, “Arabs” to Take Over Gaza and West Bank. On July 27, in an interview with NBC, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stated that “President Trump has come to believe, and I certainly have come to believe, there’s no way you’re going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas.” He continued, “They’re [Israel] going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin, take the place by force and start over again, presenting a better future for the Palestinians, hopefully having the Arabs take over the West Bank and Gaza.”
3) Hearings and Briefings
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on SOCOM and AFRICOM Nominations. On July 22, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing to consider the nominations of Vice Admiral Frank M. Bradley as commander of US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Lieutenant General Dagvin R.M. Anderson as commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM). The hearing focused on US policy to counter threats from Iran (as well as Russia and China), al-Qaeda, and the so-called Islamic State.
Congress Holds Hearings on Department of State, Counterterrorism, and Middle East Strategy. On July 23, the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) held hearings on Department of State funding and posture. On the same day, SFRC and HFAC held hearings on US policy in the Middle East and on the budget posture of the Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, respectively.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Syria Envoy Criticizes Israeli Strikes in al-Suwayda. On July 21, US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack told the Associated Press that Israel’s recent air strikes in Syria “came at a very bad time” and risked undermining efforts to stabilize the country. President Donald Trump was reportedly “caught off guard” by Israel’s strikes in Syria and on a church in Gaza. On July 22, in an interview with Reuters, Barrack urged interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to adopt a more inclusive approach in order to maintain international support. Barrack also stated that the armed fighters who carried out the attacks against Druze communities may have been Islamic State militants disguised in Syrian government uniforms, not government forces. On July 24, Barrack met with Israeli and Syrian officials in Paris to discuss de-escalation efforts in Syria.
Witkoff Says Hamas Showing “Lack of Desire” on Ceasefire Talks. On July 24, Special Envoy Steven Witkoff said that the United States would retract its negotiation team from Doha after the latest response from Hamas on a ceasefire deal. Witkoff said that Hamas “does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith” and that the Trump administration would “consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people in Gaza.” On July 25, President Trump encouraged Israel to “finish the job in Gaza,” later adding that it is now up to Israel to “decide what to do.”
Trump Signs Recissions Package into Law. On July 24, President Donald Trump signed the Recissions Act (H.R.4) into law. The act, which Congress approved earlier in July, claws back (or “rescinds”) some $9 billion in funds, including about $8 billion in foreign aid funding, that Congress had previously appropriated and that the executive branch had allocated.
2) Department of Education
Columbia Reaches $220 Million Settlement with Trump Administration. On July 24, Columbia University announced a settlement with the Trump administration, in which Columbia has agreed to pay the federal government more than $220 million to restore previously withheld federal research funding. The deal follows the administration’s allegations that the university failed to address antisemitism on campus adequately.
3) Department of State
United States to Withdraw from UNESCO. On July 22, the Department of State announced that the United States would withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), citing the agency’s alleged anti-Israel bias and decision to admit Palestine as a member state.
Huckabee Meets with Palestinian VP. On July 22, Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh posted on social media that he met with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee in Ramallah to discuss a Gaza ceasefire, hostage release, humanitarian aid, and the West Bank. Notably, the US government has not announced the meeting.
Rubio Speaks with Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani. On July 22, Secretary of State Rubio spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani about the recent attacks on energy infrastructure, Iraqi Kurdistan Region salaries, the resumption of oil exports, and US concerns with the Popular Mobilization Commission bill currently pending in the Council of Representatives.
Rubio Meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister. On July 23, Secretary Rubio met with Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman al-Safadi to discuss the situations in Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank.
Rubio Condemns France’s Planned Recognition of Palestine. On July 24, Secretary Rubio strongly criticized the French government’s reported plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the September 2025 UN General Assembly. In a post on X, Rubio said the United States “strongly rejects [Macron’s] plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly,” adding, “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”
Department Approves Foreign Military Sale to Egypt. On July 24, the Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Egypt of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $4.67 billion.
Trump Administration Seeking Investigation into Death of US Citizen in Syria Clashes. On July 24, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott told reporters that the Trump administration has had “direct discussions” with the Syrian government about the need for an investigation and accountability for the death of Hosam Saraya, a US citizen who was killed during the recent clashes in Druze communities in al-Suwayda, southern Syria.
4) Department of Defense
US Forces Kill Senior “Islamic State” Leader. On July 25, CENTCOM forces killed a senior leader of the so-called Islamic State, Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two sons in al-Bab in Syria’s Aleppo governorate.
5) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Houthi Network. On July 22, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two individuals and five entities for allegedly laundering money and importing petroleum products into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
