ExecutiveOrdersEO
DetDeterminationTrump 45 · R

Presidential Determination

Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act

President Trump suspended for six months the spending limitations in the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 that would have required moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem or facing cuts to the State Department budget. The Secretary of State was directed to transmit this determination and a required report to Congress and publish it in the Federal Register, with the suspension taking effect upon congressional transmission.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 28387

Impact dates

  1. Six-month suspension period expires

  2. Transmission of determination and report to Congress (trigger for suspension taking effect)

Key directives

  • Suspend limitations under sections 3(b) and 7(b) of Jerusalem Embassy Act for 6 months
  • Transmit determination and section 7(a) report to Congress
  • Publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Suspension of sections 3(b) and 7(b) limitations upon transmission to Congress
  • Secretary of State directed to transmit determination and report to Congress
  • Publication in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

  • Six-month suspension period runs through November 30, 2017

Long term

  • Continued precedent for serial suspensions of Jerusalem Embassy Act requirements (as occurred under Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations)

Risks & tensions

  • Continues long-standing executive practice of suspending congressionally-mandated embassy relocation; tension between legislative mandate and executive national security claims
  • May face criticism from pro-embassy-movement constituencies despite being consistent with prior administrations
  • Vague on specific national security threats justifying suspension—standard boilerplate language
Presidential Determination: Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act · Executive Orders