Shutdown Stalls Over $5 Billion in U.S. Arms Exports to NATO Allies

Overview

• A State Department estimate shared with Axios puts more than $5 billion in pending government sales and private export licenses on hold.
• Delays include AMRAAM missiles, Aegis combat systems, and HIMARS slated for Denmark, Croatia, and Poland.
• The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is operating at roughly 25% staffing, slowing reviews to a crawl during day 40 of the shutdown.
• Required briefings for congressional review under the Arms Export Control Act are not occurring because key staff are furloughed.
• A senior State Department official warned of harm to allies and U.S. industry, as State spokesperson Tommy Pigott and Sen. James Risch said the pause benefits U.S. rivals.