Some Democrats Say Biden Is Using ‘Highly Unusual’ Methods to Arm Israel

The State Department has circumvented the congressional notification process in recent weeks, citing the emergency exception in the Arms Export Control Act.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) at a Senate Banking Committee hearing on oversight of credit reporting agencies, in Washington on April 27, 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Some Democratic lawmakers are accusing President Joe Biden’s administration of taking “highly unusual” steps in order to continue sending weapons to Israel’s military without running the arms transfers by Congress.

The Arms Export Control Act (AECA) generally requires a presidential administration to notify Congress of foreign arms transfers in most cases and to allow Congress time to review the proposed arms transfers.