Seth Binder
@sethbinder.bsky.social
Director of Advocacy at the Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)
Source can be found here, #66 and #67 docs.house.gov/Committee/Ca...
Various Measures | Committee Repository | U.S. House of Representatives
docs.house.gov
September 18, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Source can be found here, #66 and #67 docs.house.gov/Committee/Ca...
Our factsheet breaks down U.S. military aid to Israel since October 7 and the immense privileges it already receives. mideastdc.org/publication/...
mideastdc.org
September 18, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Our factsheet breaks down U.S. military aid to Israel since October 7 and the immense privileges it already receives. mideastdc.org/publication/...
This amendment is in stark contrast to the myriad of other amendments introduced by Republicans & Democrats that continue the long history of Congress providing immense support & privileges to Israel, but is in line with recent US polling critical of unconditional aid to Israel.
September 18, 2025 at 2:07 AM
This amendment is in stark contrast to the myriad of other amendments introduced by Republicans & Democrats that continue the long history of Congress providing immense support & privileges to Israel, but is in line with recent US polling critical of unconditional aid to Israel.
If the secretary cant certify that Israel has taken “sustained and effective steps” on these conditions, the State Dept cant obligate 30% of the Foreign Military Financing military aid package. This does not touch the $500 million in Defense Department-funded missile defense.
September 18, 2025 at 2:07 AM
If the secretary cant certify that Israel has taken “sustained and effective steps” on these conditions, the State Dept cant obligate 30% of the Foreign Military Financing military aid package. This does not touch the $500 million in Defense Department-funded missile defense.
The conditions call on Israel to end violations of int'l humanitarian & human rights law; refrain from annexation & expanding illegal settlements; hold rights violators accountable; facilitate entry for journalists & aid workers into Gaza; & protect Palestinian civil society.
September 18, 2025 at 2:07 AM
The conditions call on Israel to end violations of int'l humanitarian & human rights law; refrain from annexation & expanding illegal settlements; hold rights violators accountable; facilitate entry for journalists & aid workers into Gaza; & protect Palestinian civil society.
While this is the first time such an amendment has ever been introduced for Israel, these types of conditions are regularly placed on other recipients of US aid, including close partners like Egypt & Mexico.
September 18, 2025 at 2:07 AM
While this is the first time such an amendment has ever been introduced for Israel, these types of conditions are regularly placed on other recipients of US aid, including close partners like Egypt & Mexico.
Far from confronting bureaucratic waste and influence, reductions in congressional reporting undermine public confidence and invite the very risks the admin claims it is looking to stem.
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Far from confronting bureaucratic waste and influence, reductions in congressional reporting undermine public confidence and invite the very risks the admin claims it is looking to stem.
The admin claims it is ending the practice of providing wasteful foreign aid & will only provide foreign aid to advance US interests, but won’t tell anyone where or why, creating an even less transparent & accountable process.
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The admin claims it is ending the practice of providing wasteful foreign aid & will only provide foreign aid to advance US interests, but won’t tell anyone where or why, creating an even less transparent & accountable process.
State has suggested that the omission of these sub-sections reflects a desire to remain flexible in responding to US national security interests. However, the executive already has significant leeway in adjusting funding levels to reflect changing circumstances.
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
State has suggested that the omission of these sub-sections reflects a desire to remain flexible in responding to US national security interests. However, the executive already has significant leeway in adjusting funding levels to reflect changing circumstances.
Earlier this year, Rep. Mast (R-FL) chastised State & USAID for its lack of transparency, claiming that “Unaccountable bureaucrats don’t want Americans to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being wasted abroad.”
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Earlier this year, Rep. Mast (R-FL) chastised State & USAID for its lack of transparency, claiming that “Unaccountable bureaucrats don’t want Americans to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being wasted abroad.”
In 2023, Sen Hawley (R-MO) said: “Most of our voters are really, really skeptical about additional aid to Ukraine... We still dont have any independent oversight of the spending, no independent accounting of where it’s going, how it’s being spent. I just think that’s outrageous.”
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
In 2023, Sen Hawley (R-MO) said: “Most of our voters are really, really skeptical about additional aid to Ukraine... We still dont have any independent oversight of the spending, no independent accounting of where it’s going, how it’s being spent. I just think that’s outrageous.”
Such an opaque process, has consistently drawn rancor from Congress. And rightly so.
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Such an opaque process, has consistently drawn rancor from Congress. And rightly so.
But the elimination of the CBJ documents is effectively asking Congress to blindly dole out money without the admin answering those questions, depriving lawmakers and the public on where & why the admin intends to spend billions of taxpayer-funded programming.
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
But the elimination of the CBJ documents is effectively asking Congress to blindly dole out money without the admin answering those questions, depriving lawmakers and the public on where & why the admin intends to spend billions of taxpayer-funded programming.
The State Department also explained that “the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.”
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The State Department also explained that “the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.”
After freezing foreign aid, Rubio justified it by arguing: “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to 3 questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
After freezing foreign aid, Rubio justified it by arguing: “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to 3 questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”
This decision eliminates the only congressional & public source of country-by-country info on US foreign aid before it is appropriated, effectively asking Congress to commit billions in taxpayer dollars without any insight into how the admin intends to spend the funds.
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This decision eliminates the only congressional & public source of country-by-country info on US foreign aid before it is appropriated, effectively asking Congress to commit billions in taxpayer dollars without any insight into how the admin intends to spend the funds.
This year, the admin is choosing to ignore that legal requirement, representing a major blow to foreign aid transparency and good governance. It is another example of the mismatch between the admin’s rhetoric and reality.
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This year, the admin is choosing to ignore that legal requirement, representing a major blow to foreign aid transparency and good governance. It is another example of the mismatch between the admin’s rhetoric and reality.
Since at least 2001, every administration, including the first Trump admin, produced a critical set of documents of how & why the government intends to provide foreign assistance and how it already spent previous funds, as required by law. But not this year.
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Since at least 2001, every administration, including the first Trump admin, produced a critical set of documents of how & why the government intends to provide foreign assistance and how it already spent previous funds, as required by law. But not this year.
Reposted by Seth Binder
@sethbinder.bsky.social @mideastdc.org "...In just these 100 days, the Trump administration may have caused irreparable harm to U.S. interests, in which the full cost is only still coming into focus." #100days Read full quote at www.forumarmstrade.org/trump100days...
Assessing Trump's First 100 Days
To mark the first 100 days in office, experts independently assess aspects of the Trump administration's policies.
www.forumarmstrade.org
April 29, 2025 at 1:28 PM
@sethbinder.bsky.social @mideastdc.org "...In just these 100 days, the Trump administration may have caused irreparable harm to U.S. interests, in which the full cost is only still coming into focus." #100days Read full quote at www.forumarmstrade.org/trump100days...