Trump's administration used an emergency declaration to bypass normal congressional arms-sale review

Date: 2019-05-24
Entry type: arms-transfer-bypass
Current status: State's inspector general found the emergency certification complied with the Arms Export Control Act.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-03

Entities and roles

2019 emergency certification for Saudi and Emirati arms transfersemergency certification covering 22 arms-transfer cases
Donald J. Trumppresident heading the administration that used the certification

factdocumented
The State Department inspector general found that Secretary Mike Pompeo used an emergency certification to proceed with 22 arms-transfer cases worth about $8.1 billion, mostly for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, without normal congressional review.
- U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General: Review of the Department of State's Role in Arms Transfers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab EmiratesExecutive summary and emergency-certification analysis