Letter to Mark Esper, Secretary of Defense, and Michael Pompeo, Secretary of State - Rep. Omar Leads Letter to Secretaries Esper and Pompeo on Recently Announced Arms Sales

Letter

Dear Secretary Esper and Secretary Pompeo,

We are writing to express our serious concern about seven proposed arms sales that have been publicly noticed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency between April 13, 2020 and May 8, 2020.[1]

There are grave human rights concerns that should be taken into consideration with all seven proposed sales. In the cases of Egypt and India, there are also potential issues related to the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. With the United Arab Emirates, there are serious allegations of end use monitoring violations and the possible use of U.S.-origin military equipment in violation of arms embargoes and both U.S. and international law in Yemen, Sudan, Syria, and Libya.

It is imperative that Congress is able to engage in its proper oversight role over these sales. As you are both well aware, the COVID-19 crisis has meant that both the House of Representatives and the Senate have spent long periods out of session, that regular committee business has not been possible, and that Members have not had access to classified materials or briefings that may help them understand these sales.

We request, therefore, at the earliest possible time, a briefing on the impetus for the above-mentioned sales, in a classified setting if necessary, to include explanations for the way the Administration plans to address human rights, CAATSA, and end use monitoring concerns. We additionally ask that you put these possible sales on hold until Congress has had the opportunity to review them carefully and thoroughly so that we may conduct our oversight role and consider legislative options.

Sincerely,