Reps. Sara Jacobs, James Moylan Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Effectiveness of U.S. Security Assistance
Washington, D.C. — Reps. Sara Jacobs and James Moylan introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the effectiveness and streamline the coordination of U.S. security assistance.
The U.S. spends billions of dollars on military assistance for partners and allies around the world, and yet the payoffs are often limited, inconsistent, and not strategic. The bifurcation and bureaucracy of U.S. security assistance between the State Department and the Defense Department often result in inconsistent communication, collaboration, or evaluation of the effectiveness of U.S. security assistance. The bipartisan United States Security Assistance Effectiveness Act would address these challenges, strengthen the State Department’s capacity, and make security assistance more strategic, accountable, and effective in advancing U.S. values and priorities.
Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Security assistance is a critical part of our national security toolbox, but bottlenecks in bureaucracy, poor communication, and insufficient evaluation can mean that we’re not advancing – and at times, we’re undermining – our foreign policy goals. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan United States Security Assistance Effectiveness Act to enhance the State Department’s capacity to track, approve, coordinate, and evaluate U.S. security assistance. Every year, the U.S. transfers billions of dollars of military training, support, and equipment, and we should feel confident that it’s being spent wisely, ethically, and effectively.”
“This bill strengthens our national interests by streamlining how we deliver security assistance to our global partners, especially in the Indo-Pacific,” said Congressman Moylan. “This coordinated strategy enhances international defense cooperation while advancing regional stability in today’s rapidly evolving security environment. I’m proud to work with Congresswoman Jacobs on this bipartisan legislation to establish a needs-based, partner-specific, and transparent approach to security assistance.”
The U.S. Security Assistance Effectiveness Act would:
- Streamline organizational structure for security assistance, including by elevating the Office of Security Assistance to be led by a Coordinator to guide and support security assistance; maintain a common database on security assistance and security cooperation; coordinate the Assessment, Monitoring, and Evaluation (AME) program; and establish a security assistance framework to guide regional and country-specific planning
- Establish curriculum at the Foreign Service Institute to provide specialized training on security assistance, including on coordination requirements, relevant laws and practices, and effectiveness of security assistance
- Require a GAO report on coordination between the State Department and the Defense Department on security assistance and security cooperation programs
- Require the State Department and Defense Department to establish a common database of all security assistance and security cooperation programs and activities
- Require the establishment of an assessment, monitoring, and evaluation (AME) program for any country receiving security assistance to define goals and measure outcomes
- Mandate a framework to guide regional and country-specific planning on security assistance and the Coordinator to annually submit to Congress a list of priority recipient countries for security assistance
The text of the bill can be found here.
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