Wagner Demands Answers from Biden Administration for Withholding Key Aid to Israel

Vice Chair Wagner said: "I write to express my profound outrage regarding reports that the State Department is delaying vital ammunition deliveries to Israel during a time of war, while also holding in limbo a crucial direct commercial sale of 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs). As Hamas seeks the complete eradication of the Jewish people, and Israelis live under existential threat from Iran and its proxies, the Administration's decision to delay weapons sales and deliveries to Israel tells the world that our nation's commitment to defend our democratic allies from Foreign Terrorist Organizations and State Sponsors of Terror is hollow and unreliable…The 'political message' the Administration is sending is that U.S. support for our allies is wavering. This message will not be lost on Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the many other terrorist extremist groups in the region that do Iran's bidding. It will be heard as well in Moscow, Beijing, and Pyongyang.

"These unprecedented delays harm workers in my district and could have long-term ramifications for the U.S. defense industrial base. As you are aware, JDAMs are manufactured in the Saint Louis area, which I represent in Congress…I am proud that engineers and manufacturing workers in the Saint Louis area are responsible for building this game-changing guidance kit for the U.S. military, as well as the militaries of partner countries on the frontlines of conflict from Europe to the Middle East. I am gravely concerned that delaying the sale of 6,500 JDAMs to Israel, which I understand has been in-process for months, will hurt Saint Louis's ability to maintain and increase production of the JDAMs in the future.

Read the full letter here.

Vice Chair Wagner called on Secretary of State Blinken to answer the following questions:

1. What were the contents of the weapons shipment that the Administration halted, as reported in Axios on May 5, 2024?
2. Have other deliveries been held or delayed? Please provide a full accounting of all shipments currently being held or delayed, and the weapons and equipment included in any such shipments.
3. Did you notify Israel before delaying planned deliveries of security assistance?
4. Has the Administration demanded any actions from Israel in return for the release of these weapons?
5. What have you communicated to Israel regarding the reason for the hold and timeline for releasing weapons shipments?
6. Why has the Administration failed to move forward with the notification process for the sale of 6,500 JDAMs to Israel?
7. When will the Administration resume the notification process?
8. Have you engaged with stakeholders in the defense industrial base regarding the impact of delays to this sale?