Trump revokes Biden-era arms oversight policy

The Trump administration has revoked a Biden-era policy requiring the U.S. government to report potential violations of international law involving U.S.-supplied weapons, officials confirmed on Monday.

The Trump administration has scrapped National Security Memorandum-20 (NSM-20), a policy introduced by former President Joe Biden in February 2024 to ensure oversight of U.S. weapons used by foreign allies in conflict zones.

NSM-20 required the U.S. government to assess whether American-supplied arms were being used in compliance with international humanitarian law and to report findings to Congress. It was implemented amid scrutiny over Israel’s use of U.S. weapons in its military operations in Gaza.

In May 2024, a report under NSM-20 found that Israel may have breached international law, but U.S. officials said they could not confirm specific violations due to the complexities of war. The Trump administration would have been required to issue its own findings in the coming months, but the repeal of NSM-20 removes that obligation.

The Washington Post first reported the decision, citing an order from White House national security adviser Michael Waltz on February 21. While Reuters could not independently verify the order, two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the matter confirmed the directive was revoked.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a leading advocate for congressional oversight of U.S. arms sales, condemned the move, calling it “shameful.”

“It’s a disservice to our national security, to global human rights, and to our standing around the world,” Van Hollen said in a statement. He also argued the repeal weakens transparency on how taxpayer-funded weapons are used abroad.

The decision comes as part of Trump’s broader review of Biden-era national security policies, including those related to military aid. The White House has not commented on the repeal, while the State Department referred questions back to the administration.

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