WASHINGTON, DC- [Photo: GANP/ Dimitrios Panagos]
U.S. Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on June 24 criticized the State Department’s decision to bypass congressional review of an arms sale valued at more than $700 million to the Turkish military.
In a statement, Meeks accused the administration of disregarding Congress’s oversight authority by moving forward with the sale without providing lawmakers with an adequate explanation.
“Late yesterday, the administration informed me it would once again bypass Congressional review for more than $700 million in defense articles to the Turkish military in yet another deeply troubling example of this administration’s open contempt for Congress’s oversight authority,” Meeks said.
According to Meeks, the State Department did not invoke emergency authority, provide a written justification, or adequately brief Congress on the implications of the sale. He said his office had sought information for months regarding the impact on U.S.-Turkey relations, Turkey’s continued possession of the Russian S-400 air defense system, and broader regional security issues.
Meeks argued that the administration failed to demonstrate any urgency that would justify bypassing congressional oversight.
“These items will not be delivered for years, and the administration repeatedly ignored persistent requests for information and clarification on key aspects of U.S. policy,” he said. “There can be no pretense that this was urgent or unavoidable. This was a deliberate choice to shut Congress out and to treat legitimate oversight as an inconvenience to be brushed aside.”
The State Department has not publicly responded to Meeks’ criticism in the statement.
