The Trump administration rescinded a Biden policy linking arms transfers to human rights compliance, according to National Security Adviser Michael Waltz’s Feb. 21 order. The Biden directive required assurances that U.S. partners would use arms in line with international law and allowed cuts in support for non-compliance.
Critics, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen, criticized Trump’s action as a disregard for American values and a threat to national security.
The change comes amid allegations of Israel’s human rights abuses using U.S.-supplied weapons.
