Rep. Ann Wagner, U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd District | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Ann Wagner, U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd District | Official U.S. House headshot
Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has demanded answers from Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the Biden Administration's decision to withhold aid to Israel. In a letter to Secretary Blinken, Wagner expressed her profound outrage at reports that the State Department is delaying vital ammunition deliveries to Israel during a time of war.
"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)," said Wagner. She went on to criticize the administration's decision as sending a "political message" that U.S. support for its allies is wavering.
Wagner continued by stating that these delays could have long-term ramifications for the U.S. defense industrial base and harm workers in her district where JDAMs are manufactured. She expressed concern that delaying the sale of 6,500 JDAMs to Israel will hurt Saint Louis’s ability to maintain and increase production of JDAMs in the future.
In her letter, Wagner posed several questions to Secretary Blinken:
- What were the contents of the weapons shipment that the Administration halted, as reported in Axios on May 5, 2024?
- 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.
- Did you notify Israel before delaying planned deliveries of security assistance?
- Has the Administration demanded any actions from Israel in return for the release of these weapons?
- What have you communicated to Israel regarding the reason for the hold and timeline for releasing weapons shipments?
- Why has the Administration failed to move forward with the notification process for the sale of 6,500 JDAMs to Israel?
- When will the Administration resume the notification process?
- Have you engaged with stakeholders in the defense industrial base regarding the impact of delays to this sale?
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