U.S. Defense Budget Includes Clause to Cancel Caesar Act; Vote Expected Soon

Mohammad Alaa Ghanem, a representative of the Syrian American Council, confirmed that the provision to cancel the Caesar Act affecting Syria has been incorporated into the final draft of the U.S. Department of Defense budget, with a vote scheduled in the coming days.

In a statement to the "SANA" agency, Ghanem expressed satisfaction over the completion of the clause's provisions, stating, "We are pleased to inform the Syrian people that the cancellation clause has been finalized in the budget agreed upon by both the Senate and House of Representatives, which will be voted on shortly." He added, "There will be no further amendments to this clause, marking the conclusion of a long and intense struggle."

Ghanem noted that congressional leaders had briefed their members on the final budget version slated for a vote. He remarked that attempts to amend the cancellation clause to make it stricter were unsuccessful, thanks to persistent efforts, and assured that there would be no further changes.

He emphasized that this development signifies an unconditional cancellation of the Caesar Act by year’s end and the removal of its automatic re-imposition mechanism. The term "conditions" has been eliminated from the final text, replaced by Congress's expectation that the Syrian government will address specific issues, including combating Captagon and implementing the March 10 agreement with the SDF—efforts already underway in collaboration with the U.S. government. The authority to re-impose sanctions has been granted to the U.S. president, but the final text does not provide him with new powers to impose sanctions on Syria.

Ghanem characterized the upcoming vote as a significant victory, as it will not only address the cancellation of the Caesar Act but also the overall Department of Defense budget, which now includes the secure clause.

He mentioned that the earliest opportunity for the vote on the U.S. Department of Defense budget could be next Thursday, although Congress has yet to officially announce a date. Following the vote, the budget will be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature, with the clause expected to take effect immediately upon signing, likely before the Christmas holiday.

Ghanem concluded by congratulating the Syrian people and expressing hope that this achievement would encourage increased investment in the Syrian market, stating, "The threat of the Caesar Act is no longer looming over the Syrian economy," and acknowledged the contributions of other Syrian American organizations in reaching this milestone.

Recent developments in U.S. politics have indicated a shift towards potentially lifting sanctions imposed on Syria under the Caesar Act. Following supportive statements from key congressional figures, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and Senator Chris Van Hollen, there is growing momentum for the complete cancellation of the sanctions.

On October 10, the U.S. Senate voted in favor of canceling the Caesar Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, but final approval requires the House of Representatives' consent before it can be sent to President Trump for signing.

The Caesar Act was enacted by the U.S. Congress in December 2019 to impose sanctions on the Syrian regime for war crimes against civilians, coming into effect in June 2020. President Trump announced on May 13 his intention to lift the sanctions, but formal cancellation requires approval from both chambers of Congress.