The White House has reportedly revoked a key policy that tied U.S. arms sales to compliance with international human rights laws. According to The Washington Post, President Donald Trump ordered the reversal of the policy, which was originally signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden. The decision was formalized in a memo issued by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, as cited by unnamed sources.
The policy in question, National Security Memorandum-20, was introduced by Biden in February 2024. It required assurances that U.S.-supplied weapons would not be used in violation of international humanitarian law. This measure was seen as a response to growing concerns that Israel’s military actions in Gaza might constitute human rights violations. The memorandum was one of the few remaining Biden-era policies addressing the Gaza conflict. Notably, all references to the memorandum have been removed from the White House website, with searches now returning a 404 error.
A May 2024 report, mandated by the memorandum, acknowledged that Israel might have breached international humanitarian law but stated that the Biden administration could not confirm specific instances of civilian harm due to the ongoing nature of the war.
Trump’s decision to overturn the memorandum follows other recent actions, including the resumption of heavy weapon shipments to Israel and the lifting of sanctions on Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. On February 7, the Trump administration also approved the sale of over $7.4 billion worth of bombs, missiles, and related military equipment to Israel.
This latest move effectively eliminates the last remaining element of Biden’s policies concerning the Gaza war, which has resulted in at least 48,346 deaths and over 111,759 injuries.
Reactions: ‘Shameful’ and Divisive
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a vocal supporter of the memorandum, condemned its revocation as “shameful,” arguing that it undermines global human rights, U.S. national security, and America’s international standing. He also noted that the reversal weakens taxpayers’ ability to ensure their money aligns with U.S. laws and values, calling it a clear example of Trump’s disregard for American principles.
In contrast, Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised the decision. He criticized the original policy as a politically motivated effort to “embarrass our ally Israel in its time of need” and argued that it weakened U.S. alliances while benefiting rivals like Russia and China.
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