Presidential Determination on Waiver of Restrictions on

President Bush waived statutory restrictions on U.S. assistance to Russia under two Cold War-era nonproliferation programs, certifying the waiver serves national security interests. The Secretary of State is directed to transmit this certification to Congress and publish it in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 67 FR 53725

Impact dates

Date TBD
Transmit certification to Congress and arrange Federal Register publication

Key directives

Certify that waiving restrictions on assistance to Russia is important to U.S. national security interests
Transmit certification to Congress
Arrange for publication in the Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Waiver takes effect upon certification
Secretary of State to transmit to Congress and arrange Federal Register publication

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

Continued U.S.-Russia cooperative threat reduction activities
Ongoing FREEDOM Support Act assistance programs

Risks & tensions

Waiver bypasses congressionally-imposed restrictions on Russia assistance, raising separation-of-power tensions
Post-9/11 context (referenced statute is 2002 Supplemental Appropriations for terrorist attack response) suggests counterterrorism rationale for waiving Russia conditions
Document does not specify what restrictions are being waived or their original purpose, creating uncertainty about scope