Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(169,603 posts)
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 05:00 AM Mar 21

Trump Admin Uses Wartime Powers to Sidestep Congress and Push $23B in Arms Sales to Gulf States

Source: Yahoo! News/MEDIAite

Fri, March 20, 2026 at 5:10 PM EDT


The Trump administration moved Friday to force through more than $23 billion in weapons sales to key Middle Eastern allies by invoking emergency powers to bypass Congress and fast-track deals that lawmakers had yet to approve.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that “an emergency exists requiring the immediate approval of critical arms transfers for Middle East partners currently under attack by Iran,” according to a State Department statement.

The use of emergency authority to override Congress is legal under the Arms Export Control Act.

The sales to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan include 11 separate arms packages. Some of the deals had been under review on Capitol Hill, while others had not even been formally submitted to Congress. The emergency declaration allows the administration to sidestep the long-standing congressional oversight process governing foreign arms transfers, a mechanism designed to give senior lawmakers time to scrutinize deals worth billions.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-admin-uses-wartime-powers-211036960.html

31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump Admin Uses Wartime Powers to Sidestep Congress and Push $23B in Arms Sales to Gulf States (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Mar 21 OP
This Administration wants our money but not our authorization Buddyzbuddy Mar 21 #1
That's a lot of money. I hope it gets everywhere and to everyone it's supposed to underpants Mar 21 #27
Yet another giant, wet, slobbery kiss from Trump popsdenver Mar 21 #28
Depending on how the sale is done, it could GO to the foreign entity underpants Mar 21 #29
Are there special "excursion" powers? Harker Mar 21 #2
Yep, AKA start a fire, pour on gasoline powers Attilatheblond Mar 21 #31
This is just competition for supplies and equipment the US needs too. Deminpenn Mar 21 #3
Cant use wartime powers without congress declaring war SSJVegeta Mar 21 #4
but it's just an excursion! barbtries Mar 21 #5
If what he says is so, then he just admitted that this is a 'war'... OldBaldy1701E Mar 21 #6
How can the Trump administration use the Wartime Powers Act when war has not been declared? Botany Mar 21 #7
How can he use wartime powers if we're not at war? IronLionZion Mar 21 #8
So it IS a war . Which means he must go through Congress. travelingthrulife Mar 21 #9
Mike Johnson is ok to give away his constitutional powers for his dear leader ! kimbutgar Mar 21 #10
No way to balance THAT checkbook! BattleRow Mar 21 #19
But they claim we are "not at war." City Lights Mar 21 #11
Only Congress can declare wars - and they haven't done it FakeNoose Mar 21 #26
Thought this was just an "excursion" Picaro Mar 21 #12
I didn't realize we still had a Congress watertiger Mar 21 #13
We dont, or they would deal with this. That said, Volaris Mar 21 #18
We have a concept of a Congress..a concept of a Constitution.. BattleRow Mar 21 #20
But nothing for Ukraine ? Bluetus Mar 21 #14
war is so lucrative for the military industril complex and it's politician enablers Evolve Dammit Mar 21 #15
If the press doesn't say anything about the word "WAR" then this is all bullshit purr-rat beauty Mar 21 #16
trump & co. were screaming we were running out of munitions for his war, Bayard Mar 21 #17
What, no money for Russia? Sam I Yam Mar 21 #21
I Thought MissouriDem47 Mar 21 #22
The war progress depends on the hour and who he spoke with last Attilatheblond Mar 21 #24
Trying to make sense of ANYTHING he does, brings me back to a comment he made to a ballroom full of donors Attilatheblond Mar 21 #23
Oh great. Escalation. It used to be US policy was constraint and de-escalation to avoid human death and suffering ChicagoTeamster Mar 21 #25
Oh, is it a "war" now? I don't recall Congress authorizing one. So it can't be "wartime." Beartracks Mar 21 #30

Buddyzbuddy

(2,600 posts)
1. This Administration wants our money but not our authorization
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 05:15 AM
Mar 21

via Congressional scrutiny and authorization. Don't forget to thank him after you're done servicing him, Republican Congress. Especially you, L.Grahm.

underpants

(196,465 posts)
27. That's a lot of money. I hope it gets everywhere and to everyone it's supposed to
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 05:15 PM
Mar 21

Just saying.

popsdenver

(2,279 posts)
28. Yet another giant, wet, slobbery kiss from Trump
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 05:26 PM
Mar 21

to the monstrously huge Military Industrial Corporations.......wonder what Trump expects in Donations in Return......

underpants

(196,465 posts)
29. Depending on how the sale is done, it could GO to the foreign entity
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 05:45 PM
Mar 21

to make the purchase or it could be us paying the MIC contractors for shipment to the foreign entity.
I am not sure how that works.

If it’s the former, to let’s say Qatar ….gee 🤔 didn’t they gift a $400M plane to Trump? What’s their relationship with Jared? Witkoff?

Deminpenn

(17,503 posts)
3. This is just competition for supplies and equipment the US needs too.
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 07:06 AM
Mar 21

Foreign governments might get direct delivery of the weapon system or weapon, but they use the same DoD supply system for maintenance and repair as the services. The foreign countries can order needed parts directly, but then they are in the same lead time pipeline as military contracts with the same contractors.

OldBaldy1701E

(11,132 posts)
6. If what he says is so, then he just admitted that this is a 'war'...
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 09:06 AM
Mar 21

And, he broke the law by starting one without congressional approval.

But, as usual, none of it matters because no one who could do anything about it will, so...

Botany

(77,309 posts)
7. How can the Trump administration use the Wartime Powers Act when war has not been declared?
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 09:56 AM
Mar 21

Laws, Constitutional Guidelines, and the powers that expressly given to Congress mean nothing
to Trump and his crew.

Btw what are the goals of this war on Iran* and how do we get out of it?

* outside of trying divert attention from Jeffery Epstein?

IronLionZion

(51,253 posts)
8. How can he use wartime powers if we're not at war?
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 10:04 AM
Mar 21


Qatar gifted him a free jet but then lost billions when their gas fields were attacked. Bribing TSF is the worst investment.

kimbutgar

(27,245 posts)
10. Mike Johnson is ok to give away his constitutional powers for his dear leader !
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 10:41 AM
Mar 21

And in the Senate John Thune also is weak and will stand by and say nothing to deter the 😡🐖💩 dictator.

There is nothing reining in this manic in the White House now. Checks and balances a thing of the past.

City Lights

(25,810 posts)
11. But they claim we are "not at war."
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 10:56 AM
Mar 21

We can't be "at war" when it's convenient and "not at war" when it's not.

FakeNoose

(41,598 posts)
26. Only Congress can declare wars - and they haven't done it
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 05:13 PM
Mar 21

... They haven't even been asked. So this incursion in Iran isn't a "war." What the hell is it?

Picaro

(2,389 posts)
12. Thought this was just an "excursion"
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 11:02 AM
Mar 21

Why does he have “war time” power if this is just an excursion, a little jaunt? But not a war…

BattleRow

(2,445 posts)
20. We have a concept of a Congress..a concept of a Constitution..
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 01:41 PM
Mar 21

A concept of a Commander in Chief..etc...etc..

purr-rat beauty

(1,249 posts)
16. If the press doesn't say anything about the word "WAR" then this is all bullshit
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 12:37 PM
Mar 21

well, it was bullshit from the start

Bayard

(29,640 posts)
17. trump & co. were screaming we were running out of munitions for his war,
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 12:38 PM
Mar 21

But now, we have enough to sell to countries he unleashed hell on. The war profiteers love this guy.

Attilatheblond

(8,867 posts)
24. The war progress depends on the hour and who he spoke with last
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 03:58 PM
Mar 21

And, of course, his Depends and the condition of said garment.

Attilatheblond

(8,867 posts)
23. Trying to make sense of ANYTHING he does, brings me back to a comment he made to a ballroom full of donors
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 03:54 PM
Mar 21

at Mar A Largo during the '24 campaign:

"You're gonna be SO RICH!"

ChicagoTeamster

(945 posts)
25. Oh great. Escalation. It used to be US policy was constraint and de-escalation to avoid human death and suffering
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 05:09 PM
Mar 21

and infrastructure damage that would hurt the global economy, Trump must have received huge campaign donations from the arms industry along with the oil industry and all his friends in the gulf oil states.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Trump Admin Uses Wartime ...