Trump administration considers ending Congressional review of arms sales: sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s administration is considering ending a long-standing system for congressional review of foreign arms sales, congressional aides said Thursday, a plan that would face strong opposition from colleagues Republicans and Democrats.

For four decades, the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House of Foreign Affairs Representatives have had the right to review and block arms sales under an informal review process.

The White House, frustrated by delays in sales to Saudi Arabia in particular, is considering ending that process, although it has not made a final decision.

The administration’s discussions were first reported by Foreign Policy.

“There is a long-standing fear that the administration will end this,” an aide told Reuters.

Congressional aides said members of both parties opposed the end of the review process, both in the Republican-led Senate and the Democrat-led House of Representatives.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

A year ago, Trump angered lawmakers by declaring a national emergency to complete $ 8 billion in military sales to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

Members of Congress had delayed sales of military equipment to the region, angered by the war in Yemen, as well as by rights abuses such as the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate.

Military aid was also an integral part of Trump’s indictment last year, which focused on whether he had withheld such aid from Ukraine to exert political pressure on his government.

Senator Bob Menéndez, the top Foreign Democrat, has “suspended” sales to Saudi Arabia, citing rights concerns.

“The American public has a right to insist that sales of American weapons to foreign governments be consistent with American values ​​and national security objectives. Consequently, Congress is charged with exercising effective oversight of such sales, “Menéndez said.