Trump administration repeals Biden-era oversight on US weapons use by allies

The Trump administration has scrapped a Biden-era policy that required the US government to report on how American-supplied weapons are being used by allied nations, according to two US officials and a source familiar with the matter.

The directive, National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20), obligated the US to assess whether recipient countries were complying with international humanitarian law and to submit reports to Congress on their use of US arms.

According to Reuters, in a report issued in May 2024 under this requirement, the Biden administration acknowledged that Israel may have violated international law but stated that officials could not confirm specific instances of harm to Palestinian civilians due to the complexities of war.

The Trump administration would have been required to submit its own assessment of Israel’s actions in the coming months. However, the Washington Post reported that White House National Security Adviser Michael Waltz issued an order on 21 February repealing NSM-20.

The State Department referred inquiries to the White House, which has yet to respond.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen, a leading advocate for oversight of US arms sales, condemned the repeal, 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. “This move also undermines American taxpayers’ right to ensure their dollars align with our laws and national interests. It’s another clear example of Trump’s blatant indifference to American values. This is not America first—it’s America in retreat.”

NSM-20 applied to all nations engaged in armed conflict that receive US weapons but became particularly contentious due to concerns over whether Israel’s assurances of compliance with international law were credible since it launched  its genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip in October 2023.

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