{"id":2434935,"date":"2025-05-15T08:44:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T12:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congress-wants-a-say-in-trump-lifting-us-sanctions-on-syria\/"},"modified":"2025-05-15T08:47:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T12:47:29","slug":"congress-wants-a-say-in-trump-lifting-us-sanctions-on-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congress-wants-a-say-in-trump-lifting-us-sanctions-on-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress wants a say in Trump lifting US sanctions on Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcongress-wants-a-say-in-trump-lifting-us-sanctions-on-syria%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2434935&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses President Donald Trump&#8217;s proposal to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, which has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-senator-threatens-ncaa-over-refusal-to-allow-james-madison-into-bowl-game\/\" title=\"Virginia senator warns NCAA over denying James Madison bowl game opportunity.\">prompted mixed reactions<\/a> from lawmakers in Congress. During a recent visit to the Middle East,Trump outlined meaningful changes in U.S. foreign policy regarding Syria, emphasizing assistance for its interim President, ahmed al Sharaa. However, many lawmakers express skepticism, citing concerns about Sharaa&#8217;s connections to terrorist organizations and the implications for U.S. national security.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally and defense hawk, has highlighted the need for congressional oversight before any sanctions relief is approved. He stated that while he supports the idea under certain conditions, it requires careful consideration of how Sharaa&#8217;s government came to power and its ties to terrorism. <\/p>\n<p>The process for lifting sanctions could be complex, requiring congressional approval due to laws such as the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. There is a consensus among some Republican senators for the president to have some decision-making power but with Congressional involvement in the oversight process. Meanwhile, some Democrats view the potential changes with cautious optimism, recognizing both the risks and opportunities this shift could present in U.S.-Syria relations.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&#8217;s proposal has sparked a debate about the balance of power in foreign policy, especially regarding sensitive issues like sanctions and national security.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump lifting sanctions on Syria warrants congressional oversight, lawmakers say<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2120726\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President Donald Trump&rsquo;s intent to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3409243\/trump-saudi-arabia-abraham-accords-drop-syria-sanctions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"lift U.S. sanctions on Syria\">lift U.S. sanctions on Syria<\/a> is being met with a heavy dose of skepticism on Capitol Hill and warnings from both sides of the aisle that the administration will need Congress&rsquo;s help.<\/p>\n<p>During his trip this week to the Middle East, Trump laid out a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >seismic foreign policy shift<\/a> toward the war-torn country after last year&rsquo;s toppling of the Assad&nbsp;regime. But it came against a backdrop of unease from lawmakers about Syrian interim President Ahmed al Sharaa&rsquo;s past <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3410272\/trump-offers-new-vision-of-u-s-middle-east-policy\/\">ties to terrorist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3411459\/senate-adds-house-gop-headache-promise-rework-trump-megabill\/\">Senate adds to House GOP headache with promise to rework Trump megabill<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3410660\/katie-britt-hakeem-jeffries-democrats-not-above-law-ice-protest\/\">Britt tells Jeffries that Democrats are not &#8216;above the law&#8217; over ICE protest<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3410995\/aviation-safety-congressional-hearings-faa-duffy-four-takeaways\/\">Aviation safety under scrutiny: Four takeaways from congressional hearings<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a defense hawk and close Trump ally, has emerged as one of the most outspoken cynics. He was on a trip to Turkey to discuss relations with Syria when the president revealed the intent to remove sanctions for the first time since the U.S. first imposed them in 1979.<\/p>\n<p>Syria remains a designated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/state-sponsors-of-terrorism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"state sponsor of terrorism\">state sponsor of terrorism<\/a>, and Sharaa, who once led the Nusra Front insurgent group, was <a href=\"https:\/\/2009-2017.state.gov\/r\/pa\/prs\/ps\/2013\/05\/209499.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"designated in 2013\">designated in 2013<\/a> by the State Department as a terrorist under his previous name, Muhammad al Jawlani.<\/p>\n<p>In a lengthy statement laying out various concerns, Graham said he was &ldquo;very inclined to support sanctions relief&rdquo; but only &ldquo;under the right conditions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We must remember that the current leadership in Syria achieved its position through force of arms, not through the will of its people,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Like many of Trump&rsquo;s plans or executive actions since returning to office, exactly how the sanctions will be lifted remains an open question and will likely require some congressional approval.<\/p>\n<p>Congress would need to repeal any sanctions it has imposed in recent decades, according to the nonpartisan foreign policy think tank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/analysis\/trump-announces-lifting-sanctions-syria\">Center for Strategic and International Studies<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>That would be a &ldquo;complicated process,&rdquo; Graham said, and would include the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act that became law in Trump&rsquo;s first term. Secretary of State Marco Rubio can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/foreign-terrorist-organizations\/\">revoke<\/a> Syria&rsquo;s designation as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmakers-consider-enacting-statute-to-increase-punishments-for-domestic-terrorism\/\" title=\"... consider enacting statute to increase punishments for domestic terrorism\">foreign terrorist organization<\/a>, with certain conditions involving Congress. The administration could also limit its sanctions enforcement. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,&rdquo; Trump said Tuesday at a forum in Saudi Arabia. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s their time to shine. We&rsquo;re taking them all off. &hellip; Good luck, Syria, show us something very special.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump met with Sharaa on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, where he urged the jihadist-turned-president to improve relations with longtime adversary Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Senate GOP leadership members Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY), the latter of whom sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, both expressed a desire for some degree of congressional oversight but did not elaborate.<\/p>\n<p>Graham cited national security concerns for Israel, a close U.S. ally. He also wants a formal report from the administration outlining specifics on why it would drop Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, as required by law to end certain sanctions, and noted Congress has yet to receive one.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this photo released by the Saudi Royal Palace, interim Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa shakes hands with President Donald Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. At right is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (Bandar Aljaloud\/Saudi Royal Palace via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I am certain that Congress would need to be informed of changes in conditions placed on Syria and how they have met those conditions before Congress can make an informed decision on whether or not it should approve the change in designation,&rdquo; Graham stated.<\/p>\n<p>The intent to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-legislative-push-seeks-to-stop-biden-admin-from-unraveling-iran-sanctions\/\" title=\"GOP Legislative Push Seeks to Stop Biden Admin from Unraveling Iran ...\">provide sanctions relief<\/a> has offered the latest episode of congressional Republicans willing to cede more control to Trump on a range of issues, with other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congress-wants-a-say-in-trump-lifting-us-sanctions-on-syria-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Congress wants a say in Trump lifting US ... on ... - Washington Examiner\">recent episodes including tariffs<\/a>, the Department of Government Efficiency&rsquo;s cuts to the federal government, and how the administration uses funds appropriated by Congress.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m actually OK with the fact that, for a while, we need to have the president, working with [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio and other advisers, make some of these decisions. And then, when the dust settles a little bit, coming to us,&rdquo; said Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).<\/p>\n<p>She cited a busy congressional schedule for the GOP majorities that includes advancing Trump&rsquo;s broader legislative agenda through the so-called big beautiful bill that Republicans want to pass by July 4. The process is more commonly known as budget reconciliation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As you know, we don&rsquo;t move very fast, and we&rsquo;re in the throes of reconciliation,&rdquo; Lummis said. &ldquo;To make these decisions that are important to make quickly, it needs to reside with the president.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Democrats also offered a mix of optimism and concern. <\/p>\n<p>Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, lauded Trump&rsquo;s move. She and panel Chairman James Risch (R-ID) lobbied the administration last month for conditional sanctions relief. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Sen. Risch and I have both been very supportive of lifting sanctions on Syria. I think it&rsquo;s very important,&rdquo; Shaheen said. &ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t gotten the details of what exactly they&rsquo;re proposing, but I think it&rsquo;s very positive.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Other Democrats closely involved in foreign policy matters viewed the major change with a heavy dose of skepticism.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3410272\/trump-offers-new-vision-of-u-s-middle-east-policy\/\">IN SAUDI ARABIA, TRUMP OFFERS NEW VISION OF US MIDDLE EAST POLICY: NO &lsquo;PERMANENT ENEMIES&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) characterized it as a &ldquo;bold move&rdquo; that could &ldquo;help reset our relations with Syria.&rdquo; But he was wary about America&rsquo;s history with Sharaa and said it was paramount that Congress had a &ldquo;central role to play.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Congress played a central role in imposing the sanctions in the first place and should be both briefed on and centrally engaged in oversight and follow up,&rdquo; Coons said. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know what trajectory the new Syrian government is on. I think it&rsquo;s reasonable to take a chance on an opening that might pull them in our direction.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2120726\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2120726\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump&#8217;s plan to lift Syria sanctions raises concerns, lawmakers say<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2434936,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/trump-lift-us-sanctions-on-syria.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4402,3634,36614],"class_list":["post-2434935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congress","tag-trump","tag-us-sanctions"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/trump-lift-us-sanctions-on-syria.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2434935"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434935\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2434939,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434935\/revisions\/2434939"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2434936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2434935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2434935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2434935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}