Trump Administration Reverses Biden-Era Order on Israel and US Arms Sales

The Trump administration has rescinded a key Biden-era order that mandated Israel and other U.S. allies to report potential violations of international law involving U.S.-supplied weapons. The decision, confirmed by two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the matter, was made on February 21, 2025.

Under the National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20) signed by President Biden last year, countries receiving U.S. weapons were required to commit in writing that the arms would not be used to target civilians or obstruct humanitarian aid. Although countries were already expected to use U.S. military assistance in accordance with international law, the new directive called for a formal, written pledge and a subsequent report to Congress on compliance.

The Biden administration’s push for NSM-20 was largely influenced by progressive Democrats who sought to curb U.S. military assistance to Israel, citing concerns that the arms were being used to harm Palestinian civilians in Gaza. However, when the State Department issued a report several months later, it refrained from concluding that Israel misused the U.S. security assistance. The report noted that while Israel might have breached international humanitarian law, it could not find specific instances due to the chaotic nature of war.

The Trump administration, through national security adviser Michael Waltz, formally reversed NSM-20. This decision has stirred controversy, with activists and lawmakers expressing outrage. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a strong advocate for congressional oversight of arms sales, denounced the reversal as “shameful,” calling it a disservice to U.S. national security, global human rights, and the country's global standing. Senator Bernie Sanders also voiced concerns, emphasizing the importance of taxpayer oversight on arms sales and calling Trump’s actions a retreat from American values.

The Trump administration has also revisited other aspects of U.S.-Israel military relations, including reversing Biden's decision to freeze a shipment of 2,000-lb bombs to Israel, which had been suspended over concerns about potential civilian casualties in densely populated areas.