Delegation of Responsibilities Under Sections 1203-1207 of Title XII of Public Law 103-160

This memorandum delegates presidential authorities under the Cooperative Threat Reduction Act (Nunn-Lugar) to the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, with State Department certification required before Defense can act in any former Soviet republic, and OMB sign-off required for fund obligations.

Federal Register 59 FR 5929

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Key directives

Delegate section 1203(d) authority to Secretary of State
Delegate sections 1203(a), 1204, 1206, and 1207 authorities to Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Defense prohibited from exercising authority in any former Soviet republic until Secretary of State has exercised parallel authority for that republic
Secretary of Defense prohibited from obligating funds until OMB Director determines expenditures count as discretionary spending in national defense function (050)
Secretary of State directed to publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Delegation of authorities takes effect upon signing
Secretary of State authorized to publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

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Long term

Ongoing threat reduction programs in former Soviet republics subject to interagency coordination requirements

Risks & tensions

Interagency sequencing requirement creates potential bottleneck if State Department delays certification
OMB discretionary spending determination adds fiscal control layer that could slow program implementation
Conditionality on former Soviet republics may create uncertainty for program planning
Text does not specify consequences if OMB declines to make required determination