State Department Fails to Warn Congress on U.S. Arms Falling into Enemy Hands

State Department Fails to Inform Congress on U.S. Weapons Falling into Wrong Hands A new Government Accountability Office report has revealed that the State Department is not adequately informing Congress about instances where U.S.-supplied weapons have fallen into the wrong hands, sparking concerns over the effectiveness of the current system. According to the report, since 2019, the Pentagon has flagged more than 150 incidents that could be violations of end-use agreements, which require partner governments to use U.S. weapons only for authorized purposes and keep them secure. However, the State Department has reported just three end-use violations to Capitol Hill during this period. "We're not getting the information we need from the State Department," said Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who expressed his concerns about the lack of transparency in an October 2025 meeting with President Donald Trump. "It's unacceptable that we don't know what's happening to these weapons once they leave our shores." The report also found that the State Department relies heavily on overseas Defense Department officials for tips about potential end-use violations, rather than conducting its own investigations. This has led to inconsistent reporting and a lack of clear guidance on what constitutes a reportable incident. "This is not just an issue of transparency; it's also an issue of accountability," said Senator Bob Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "We need to know that our foreign policy is being implemented in accordance with our values and interests." The State Department has maintained that it takes end-use violations seriously and is committed to working with Congress to address these issues. "We understand the importance of transparency and accountability in our foreign assistance programs," said a State Department spokesperson. "We are reviewing the GAO report and will work with Congress to implement any necessary reforms." The issue of U.S.-supplied weapons falling into the wrong hands has been a long-standing concern for lawmakers, who have raised questions about the effectiveness of the current system. In 2019, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on the issue, during which witnesses testified that the State Department was not doing enough to monitor and report end-use violations. The GAO report's findings have sparked renewed calls for reform, with some lawmakers pushing for greater oversight and transparency in U.S. foreign assistance programs. "We need to get our house in order and make sure we're not enabling human rights abuses or supporting authoritarian regimes," said Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "This report is a wake-up call for all of us to do better." The State Department has promised to review the GAO report and work with Congress to implement any necessary reforms. However, the exact timeline for these changes remains unclear. As the issue continues to unfold, lawmakers are expected to hold further hearings and push for greater transparency and accountability in U.S. foreign assistance programs. *Reporting by Theintercept.*