Waiver of Restriction on Providing Funds to the Palestinian Authority

President Obama waived a statutory restriction to allow U.S. foreign assistance funds to flow to the Palestinian Authority, certifying it was important to national security interests. The determination requires transmission to Congress with a report and publication in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 78 FR 48025

Impact dates

Date TBD
Report to Congress pursuant to section 7040(d)

Key directives

Waive section 7040(a) restrictions to provide funds to Palestinian Authority
Transmit determination to Congress with report under section 7040(d)
Publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Waiver takes effect upon signing, unblocking funds to Palestinian Authority
Secretary of State directed to transmit determination to Congress and publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

Congressional report pursuant to section 7040(d) to be transmitted

Long term

—

Risks & tensions

Congressional oversight tension: waiver bypasses legislative restriction on Palestinian Authority funding
Section 7040(a) restrictions typically tied to Palestinian compliance with conditions; waiver may draw scrutiny
Report timing vague: 'with a report' but no explicit deadline specified in text