WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, have called for the repeal of National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20) in a letter addressed to President Biden and Secretary Blinken.
In their letter, the lawmakers expressed their concerns about NSM-20, stating that it “is a redundant requirement that adds unnecessary bureaucracy and contributes to frustration from the partners and allies that count on U.S. security assistance.” They emphasized the need to abide by the human rights safeguards already established in U.S. security assistance law and to continue supporting critical partners worldwide.
The lawmakers highlighted that the timing and vague language of NSM-20 raise concerns about potential Executive overreach and negative consequences for national security. They pointed out that the memorandum’s release appears to be aimed at placating critics of security assistance to Israel, which could hinder America’s ability to maintain strong partnerships and allies.
Furthermore, Risch and McCaul argued that the memorandum was designed to appease critics of Israel and lacks clear standards, leaving room for inconsistent interpretations that could undermine the reliability of U.S. security assistance.
As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Risch and McCaul reaffirmed their commitment to human rights standards established in U.S. law but stressed the need to revoke NSM-20, describing it as a redundant reporting requirement influenced by anti-Israel sentiment.
The full text of the letter addressed to President Biden concluded with a firm call to action: “We urge you to revoke NSM-20, abide by the robust and vital human rights safeguards already codified in U.S. security assistance law, and continue to support our critical partners around the world.”
