Trump lifts restrictions on arms sales, critics call It ‘shameful’

• The Trump administration has revoked National Security Memorandum-20 (NSM-20), a Biden-era policy requiring reports on potential international law violations involving U.S.-supplied weapons. The policy aimed to ensure U.S. arms were used in compliance with humanitarian law.
• The repeal aligns with Trump’s “America First” approach, prioritizing arms sales to allies without additional reporting requirements.
• Critics argue the move undermines U.S. national security and global human rights efforts, while supporters believe it strengthens U.S. alliances by ensuring a steady flow of military aid.

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The Trump administration has scrapped a key Biden-era policy that tracked how U.S. weapons are used abroad, ending a requirement to report potential violations of international law.

The policy, known as National Security Memorandum-20 (NSM-20), was signed by President Joe Biden in February 2024, and required the U.S. government to assess whether allies, including Israel, were using American weapons in compliance with international humanitarian law. The decision to rescind the policy was confirmed by U.S. officials and first reported by The Washington Post.

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What did NSM-20 require?

NSM-20 mandated that the U.S. government provide reports to Congress evaluating the conduct of foreign nations using American-made weapons in armed conflicts. It required allies to give written assurances that U.S. arms would not be used in ways that violated international law or obstructed humanitarian aid.

The memorandum gained attention during Israel’s war in Gaza, where the Biden administration found it “reasonable to assess” that Israel had used American weapons in ways that could violate international law, but stated that it lacked conclusive evidence due to the complexities of the war.

Why did the Trump administration revoke NSM-20?

President Donald Trump, who took office in January 2025, signed an executive order calling for a review of all national security memoranda issued under Biden. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz issued an order on Feb. 21, officially rescinding NSM-20.

The decision aligns with Trump’s broader “America First” approach to foreign policy, which emphasizes reducing restrictions on arms sales to U.S. allies. The administration has not publicly commented on the repeal, but officials have suggested the move aims to streamline arms transfers without additional reporting requirements.

What are the reactions to the decision?

The decision to revoke NSM-20 has drawn strong reactions from lawmakers and foreign policy experts. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a key proponent of the memorandum, called the repeal “shameful,” and said it undermines U.S. national security and global human rights efforts.

Critics argue that eliminating NSM-20 signals a lack of accountability in how U.S. weapons are used abroad. Christopher Le Mon, a former senior State Department official for human rights, said the repeal suggests that the U.S. government is indifferent to whether its weapons are used in ways that violate international law.

On the other hand, Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, welcomed the move. Risch argued that NSM-20 was politically motivated, and designed to embarrass Israel at a time when it was engaged in a conflict.

Supporters of the repeal believe removing the policy will strengthen U.S. alliances by ensuring a steady flow of military aid without extra bureaucratic hurdles.

How does this affect U.S. support for Israel?

The repeal of NSM-20 comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to reinforce U.S. military support for Israel. Shortly after taking office, Trump approved the transfer of a previously withheld shipment of 2,000-pound bombs and lifted restrictions on Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. On Feb. 7, the administration approved a $7.4 billion arms deal with Israel, including bombs, missiles, and other military equipment.

The United States remains Israel’s largest provider of military aid, and the war in Gaza has intensified scrutiny over how U.S. weapons are used. Since the conflict began after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, more than 48,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

The Biden administration had sought to use NSM-20 to pressure Israel into facilitating humanitarian aid deliveries, but critics say its enforcement was inconsistent.

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What are the broader implications of the repeal?

The repeal of NSM-20 is part of a broader rollback of Biden-era policies aimed at linking U.S. arms sales to human rights concerns. During Trump’s first term, his administration reportedly prioritized economic and strategic considerations over human rights in arms transfers.

Following his return to office, the Pentagon has also moved to dismantle an office established under Biden to promote civilian safety in battlefield operations.

Despite NSM-20’s repeal, U.S. arms sales remain subject to laws such as the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which include provisions on human rights and humanitarian concerns.

Advocacy groups, including Human Rights Watch, have urged the Trump administration to ensure that U.S. weapons are not used to violate international law.

With NSM-20 revoked, future U.S. arms sales will proceed without the additional reporting and accountability measures it required. The move is expected to further shape U.S. foreign policy, particularly in ongoing conflicts where American weapons play a significant role.