Presidential Determination Relating to Assistance for Saudi Arabia

President Bush waived a statutory restriction on U.S. assistance to Saudi Arabia by certifying that Saudi Arabia was cooperating with counterterrorism efforts. The Secretary of State was directed to report this certification to Congress and publish it in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 70 FR 60397

Impact dates

Date TBD
Report certification to Congress and publish in Federal Register

Key directives

Certify that Saudi Arabia is cooperating with counterterrorism efforts
Waive application of section 575 of FY 2005 FOAA and substantially similar provisions
Report certification to Congress
Publish certification in the Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Waiver of section 575 restriction takes effect upon certification
Federal Register publication required

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

—

Risks & tensions

Congressional oversight tension: bypasses legislative restriction on aid to Saudi Arabia
Certification based on executive judgment of counterterrorism cooperation, which was contested at the time regarding Saudi Arabia's role
Waiver covers 'substantially the same' and future provisions, creating broad preemptive effect