A bipartisan group of senators is pressing the Trump administration to declassify and release two side letters attached to a proposed civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The lawmakers say Congress cannot fully evaluate the deal without seeing the documents.
The administration submitted the agreement, known as a Section 123 agreement, to Congress for review as required by law. The agreement references the two letters, but the letters remain classified even though they affect the obligations and operation of the broader deal, according to the senators.
Lawmakers cite oversight responsibilities
The senators sent their request to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. They argued that Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act gives Congress a statutory role in reviewing nuclear cooperation agreements.
The group said lawmakers and the public need the complete text to understand commitments made by the United States and Saudi Arabia. They also said the documents should be available before the agreement potentially takes effect.
New York Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer signed the letter. Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, said the agreement carries significant national-security implications and that withholding key terms prevents meaningful public scrutiny.
Request draws support from both parties
The request was also signed by Sens. Jeff Merkley, Edward Markey, Rand Paul, John Kennedy, Jeanne Shaheen, Jack Reed, Patty Murray, Sheldon Whitehouse, Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, Michael Bennet, Ron Wyden and Peter Welch.
The signers include Democrats, Republicans and an independent. They called transparency and open debate essential to Congress' review of the agreement and asked the administration to release the letters without delay.
Gillibrand has previously pressed for congressional oversight of nuclear policy. Her office cited her earlier efforts to preserve arms-control treaties, restrict artificial intelligence from launching nuclear weapons and obtain an intelligence briefing on U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
The senators' letter did not include the contents of the classified documents or identify a deadline for an administration response.
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