blog.sentinel-team.org/p/us-and-israel-strike-iran-iran-retaliates?utm_source=po...
1 correction found
The US State Department reportedly delayed an arms sale to Taiwan that was recently approved by Congress, to ensure that Trump’s April visit to China goes smoothly.
U.S. arms sales are generally not "approved" by Congress; under the Arms Export Control Act, the executive branch notifies Congress and Congress may block a sale via a joint resolution of disapproval.
Full reasoning
What the post claims
It says the Taiwan arms sale was “recently approved by Congress.”
Why that’s incorrect
Under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the President/executive branch proposes arms sales and must notify Congress before completing them. Congress has an oversight window in which it can stop (disapprove) a proposed sale by passing a joint resolution of disapproval. In other words, Congress’s formal role is review/possible disapproval, not affirmative “approval.”
Evidence
- A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report describing the AECA process states the President must notify Congress before concluding a sale, and Congress can block it through a joint resolution of disapproval.
- DSCA’s Security Assistance Management Manual (SAMM) guidance similarly states Congress reviews a proposed sale and may prohibit the transfer by enacting a joint resolution; otherwise the LOA may be offered after the review period.
This directly contradicts the post’s characterization that the sale was “approved by Congress.”
2 sources
- Arms Sales: Congressional Review Process (CRS, via Congress.gov)
"Under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the President must formally notify Congress ... before the Administration can take the final steps to conclude" an arms sale; Congress can disapprove under AECA procedures.
- DSCA 24-29 — Security Assistance Management Manual update on Congressional Notification (DSCA)
"Congress reviews each such proposed sale and may prohibit the transfer by enacting a joint resolution... If Congress does not enact a joint resolution, the LOA document may be offered when the review period expires."