Establishing an America First Arms Transfer Strategy
This Presidential Action establishes an 'America First Arms Transfer Strategy' to leverage U.S. military equipment sales as a primary tool of foreign policy, explicitly linking arms exports to the expansion of domestic defense production capacity and technological superiority.
The order directs multiple federal agencies, including the Departments of War, State, and Commerce, to create implementation plans within strict deadlines, develop prioritized sales catalogs, streamline administrative processes like Third-Party Transfers, and enhance accountability through a new task force and public performance metrics.
Arguments For
Strengthening Domestic Industrial Base: The strategy prioritizes using foreign defense purchases and capital to directly fund and expand production capacity within the U.S. defense industrial base, ensuring resilience and technological superiority.
Leveraging Foreign Policy Tool: It formalizes the use of arms transfers as an intentional tool of foreign policy designed to align allies' defense needs with U.S. strategic interests and enhance burden-sharing.
Streamlining Bureaucracy: By mandating the review and realignment of complex processes like Third-Party Transfer (TPT) and improving coordination on end-use monitoring, the action seeks to make defense sales faster and more efficient.
Prioritizing Key Partners: The strategy directs prioritization for sales to partners who have invested in their own defense, hold critical geographic importance, or contribute significantly to U.S. economic security.
Arguments Against
Potential for Over-Militarization of Trade: Focusing heavily on leveraging arms sales for industrial benefit might lead to diplomatic prioritization based on procurement rather than broader foreign policy or human rights considerations.
Implementation Complexity and Delays: Creating new strategies, task forces, and requiring coordination across the Departments of War, State, and Commerce within strict timelines (e.g., 60 or 120 days) may lead to initial bureaucratic friction and delays in existing sales processes.
Congressional Friction: Amending established review processes, such as modifying Congressional notification requirements under EO 13637, could invite pushback from Congress over oversight of arms transfers.
Risk of Diversion/Accountability: While the order aims to improve End Use Monitoring, increased volume and speed of sales inherently carry a higher risk that sensitive military equipment could be diverted or misused by allies or third parties.
Presidential Actions
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. American-manufactured military equipment is the best in the world, resulting in American dominance across international defense exports. It is critical that the United States fully use this comparative advantage in arms transfers as both a tool of foreign policy and a tool to expand domestic production and transfer.
To maintain our military dominance and technological superiority, the time has come to establish, implement, and execute an America First Arms Transfer Strategy. As the first strategy of its kind, it will ensure that future arms sales prioritize American interests by using foreign purchases and capital to build American production and capacity. This strategy will advance a technologically superior, ready, and resilient national security industrial enterprise. It will strengthen the United States defense industrial base to ensure it has the capacity to support our military and our allies and partners, especially as we increase burden-sharing.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to intentionally use arms transfers as a tool of American foreign policy and to expand strategically relevant industrial production capacity in the United States by:
(a) establishing an America First Arms Transfer Strategy that provides clear direction and implementation guidance to arms transfer stakeholders; and
(b) streamlining processes across executive departments and agencies (agencies) to strengthen effectiveness and create efficiencies in our defense sales enterprise.
Sec. 3. An America First Arms Transfer Strategy. (a) An America First Arms Transfer Strategy shall accomplish the following objectives:
(i) The United States will use arms sales and transfers to increase production and build production capacity for weapons and platforms the Secretary of War determines to be the most operationally relevant for executing the National Security Strategy (NSS);
(ii) The United States will use foreign purchases and capital to support domestic reindustrialization, expand production capacity, and improve the resilience of the United States defense industrial base. Arms sales and transfers will support Department of War (DoW) efforts to promote innovation and competition by incentivizing new entrants and nontraditional defense companies to contribute to the defense industrial base;
(iii) The United States will use arms sales and transfers to reinforce DoW acquisition and sustainment activities, including by building critical supply chain resilience and avoiding adding to backlogs on priority components and end-items that impact United States or ally and partner readiness;
(iv) Consistent with Executive Order 14268 of April 9, 2025 (Reforming Foreign Defense Sales to Improve Speed and Accountability), the United States will prioritize arms sales and transfers to partners that have invested in their own self-defense and capabilities, have a critical role or geography in United States plans and operations, or contribute to our economic security.
(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, a sales catalog of prioritized platforms and systems that the United States shall encourage our allies and partners to acquire. The sales catalog shall be based on criteria identified in the America First Arms Transfer Strategy.
(c) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, shall provide recommendations to enhance advocacy efforts encouraging foreign procurement of defense articles produced in America for the purpose of supporting an America First Arms Transfer Strategy.
(d) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall identify Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales opportunities that will support the strategic objectives of the America First Arms Transfer Strategy and the growth of the United States defense industrial base.
(e) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall develop an industry engagement plan and submit it to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, to enable the United States Government to fully coordinate with American stakeholders while executing the America First Arms Transfer Strategy.
Sec. 4. Eliminating Inefficiencies in American Arms Transfers. In order to fully implement an America First Arms Transfer Strategy and streamline our defense sales process, the United States Government shall undertake the following actions:
(i) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall develop clear criteria for determining which weapons, platforms, or capabilities require Enhanced End Use Monitoring. Additionally, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall establish an End Use Monitoring coordination group, consisting of designees from each respective department, which will meet to improve the effectiveness and coordination of their respective department’s end-use monitoring activities. These actions will improve information sharing and efficiencies to ensure allies and partners are complying with United States requirements and to reduce risk of diversion.
(ii) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of War, shall review Third-Party Transfer (TPT) processes and submit a plan to the President through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs to reduce and potentially realign the onerous TPT process, with due consideration to technology security risks.
(iii) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall develop a process to provide advanced notice, as appropriate, to allies and partners of upcoming contracting actions and associated deadlines for FMS Letter of Offer and Acceptance implementation.
(iv) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall ensure effective coordination when assessing the impacts of Direct Commercial Sales to the defense industrial base.
(v) To streamline Congressional notifications, Executive Order 13637 of March 8, 2013 (Administration of Reformed Export Controls) is hereby amended by revising section 1(j) and (k) to read as follows:
“(j) Those under sections 36(a) Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(a)) to the Secretary of War. The Secretary of War, in the implementation of the delegated functions under sections 36(a), shall consult with the Secretary of State. With respect to those functions under sections 36(a)(5) and (6) (22 U.S.C. 2776(a)(5) and (6)), the Secretary of War shall also consult with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(k) Those under section 36(b)(1), (c) and (d) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)(1), (c), and (d)) to the Secretary of State. To ensure coordination, the Secretary of State shall notify the Secretary of War of the intent to formally notify the Congress of proposed arms transfers.”
Sec. 5. Enhancing Accountability and Transparency. (a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall establish the Promoting American Military Sales Task Force (Task Force) to coordinate efforts to implement the America First Arms Transfer Strategy and enhance accountability and transparency throughout the arms transfer enterprise. The Task Force shall:
(i) be chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs or his designee, and be composed of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade;
(ii) develop a charter to clearly define the specific objectives and structure of the Task Force;
(iii) include as ex officio members the Service Acquisition Executives of the military departments and representatives of other non-military implementing agencies as appropriate to report on actions taken by the military departments and other implementing agencies to accelerate the contracting of priority FMS cases and ensure exportability of identified priority systems; and
(iv) convene quarterly, or as required, to review progress implementing the America First Arms Transfer Strategy, including whether targeted defense sales align with the Strategy’s objectives.
(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, and to further the reforms directed in Executive Order 14268, and to improve transparency for United States industry and partners and allies, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall begin to publish aggregate quarterly performance metrics on FMS case development and execution, and on the adjudication of Commerce and State export licenses.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise effect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of War.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 6, 2026.
The post Establishing an America First Arms Transfer Strategy appeared first on The White House.
The document begins with boilerplate language, invoking the President's constitutional and legal authority to issue an order.
The main heading and navigation elements frame this as an official Presidential Action.
The President states the purpose of the action: to establish an "America First Arms Transfer Strategy." This strategy aims to leverage U.S. dominance in military equipment exports to enhance foreign policy objectives while simultaneously expanding domestic defense production capacity.
The policy section outlines the two main goals: creating the strategy for coherent direction and streamlining the defense sales enterprise across various executive departments and agencies.
Sec. 3. An America First Arms Transfer Strategy. (a) An America First Arms Transfer Strategy shall accomplish the following objectives:
(i) The United States will use arms sales and transfers to increase production and build production capacity for weapons and platforms the Secretary of War determines to be the most operationally relevant for executing the National Security Strategy (NSS);
(ii) The United States will use foreign purchases and capital to support domestic reindustrialization, expand production capacity, and improve the resilience of the United States defense industrial base. Arms sales and transfers will support Department of War (DoW) efforts to promote innovation and competition by incentivizing new entrants and nontraditional defense companies to contribute to the defense industrial base;
(iii) The United States will use arms sales and transfers to reinforce DoW acquisition and sustainment activities, including by building critical supply chain resilience and avoiding adding to backlogs on priority components and end-items that impact United States or ally and partner readiness;
(iv) Consistent with Executive Order 14268 of April 9, 2025 (Reforming Foreign Defense Sales to Improve Speed and Accountability), the United States will prioritize arms sales and transfers to partners that have invested in their own self-defense and capabilities, have a critical role or geography in United States plans and operations, or contribute to our economic security.
(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, a sales catalog of prioritized platforms and systems that the United States shall encourage our allies and partners to acquire. The sales catalog shall be based on criteria identified in the America First Arms Transfer Strategy.
(c) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, shall provide recommendations to enhance advocacy efforts encouraging foreign procurement of defense articles produced in America for the purpose of supporting an America First Arms Transfer Strategy.
(d) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall identify Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales opportunities that will support the strategic objectives of the America First Arms Transfer Strategy and the growth of the United States defense industrial base.
(e) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall develop an industry engagement plan and submit it to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, to enable the United States Government to fully coordinate with American stakeholders while executing the America First Arms Transfer Strategy.
Section 3 details the objectives of the new strategy and sets deadlines for key implementation steps.
The objectives center on using arms sales to drive domestic industrial growth, prioritizing systems deemed operationally relevant by the Secretary of War for the National Security Strategy.
Sales must support domestic reindustrialization, bolster supply chain resilience, and prevent backlogs on items crucial for U.S. or allied readiness.
Furthermore, sales prioritization favors partners who invest in their own defense, hold strategic importance, or bolster U.S. economic security, referencing a previous 2025 Executive Order.
Specific deliverables are mandated: a prioritized sales catalog from the Secretary of War (120 days), recommendations from the Secretary of Commerce on advocacy (120 days), identification of FMS/Direct Commercial Sales opportunities by State and War (120 days), and an industry engagement plan from State and War (60 days).
Sec. 4. Eliminating Inefficiencies in American Arms Transfers. In order to fully implement an America First Arms Transfer Strategy and streamline our defense sales process, the United States Government shall undertake the following actions:
(i) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall develop clear criteria for determining which weapons, platforms, or capabilities require Enhanced End Use Monitoring. Additionally, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall establish an End Use Monitoring coordination group, consisting of designees from each respective department, which will meet to improve the effectiveness and coordination of their respective department’s end-use monitoring activities. These actions will improve information sharing and efficiencies to ensure allies and partners are complying with United States requirements and to reduce risk of diversion.
(ii) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of War, shall review Third-Party Transfer (TPT) processes and submit a plan to the President through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs to reduce and potentially realign the onerous TPT process, with due consideration to technology security risks.
(iii) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall develop a process to provide advanced notice, as appropriate, to allies and partners of upcoming contracting actions and associated deadlines for FMS Letter of Offer and Acceptance implementation.
(iv) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall ensure effective coordination when assessing the impacts of Direct Commercial Sales to the defense industrial base.
(v) To streamline Congressional notifications, Executive Order 13637 of March 8, 2013 (Administration of Reformed Export Controls) is hereby amended by revising section 1(j) and (k) to read as follows:
“(j) Those under sections 36(a) Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(a)) to the Secretary of War. The Secretary of War, in the implementation of the delegated functions under sections 36(a), shall consult with the Secretary of State. With respect to those functions under sections 36(a)(5) and (6) (22 U.S.C. 2776(a)(5) and (6)), the Secretary of War shall also consult with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(k) Those under section 36(b)(1), (c) and (d) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)(1), (c), and (d)) to the Secretary of State. To ensure coordination, the Secretary of State shall notify the Secretary of War of the intent to formally notify the Congress of proposed arms transfers.”
Section 4 directs specific actions to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies in the arms transfer pipeline. This involves developing clearer criteria for Enhanced End Use Monitoring and establishing a coordination group involving State, War, and Commerce to improve monitoring effectiveness and reduce diversion risk within 90 days.
Another key directive is to review and submit a plan to reduce the 'onerous' Third-Party Transfer (TPT) process within 60 days.
Additionally, War and State must develop a process to give allies advance notice of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracting deadlines within 90 days.
Finally, this section amends a 2013 Executive Order regarding Congressional notification procedures, clarifying consultation roles between the Secretary of War and the Secretary of State concerning notifications under Section 36(a) and Section 36(b)(1), (c), and (d) of the Arms Export Control Act.
Sec. 5. Enhancing Accountability and Transparency. (a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall establish the Promoting American Military Sales Task Force (Task Force) to coordinate efforts to implement the America First Arms Transfer Strategy and enhance accountability and transparency throughout the arms transfer enterprise. The Task Force shall:
(i) be chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs or his designee, and be composed of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade;
(ii) develop a charter to clearly define the specific objectives and structure of the Task Force;
(iii) include as ex officio members the Service Acquisition Executives of the military departments and representatives of other non-military implementing agencies as appropriate to report on actions taken by the military departments and other implementing agencies to accelerate the contracting of priority FMS cases and ensure exportability of identified priority systems; and
(iv) convene quarterly, or as required, to review progress implementing the America First Arms Transfer Strategy, including whether targeted defense sales align with the Strategy’s objectives.
(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, and to further the reforms directed in Executive Order 14268, and to improve transparency for United States industry and partners and allies, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall begin to publish aggregate quarterly performance metrics on FMS case development and execution, and on the adjudication of Commerce and State export licenses.
Section 5 focuses on establishing mechanisms for oversight.
It requires the creation of the Promoting American Military Sales Task Force, composed of high-level officials from State, War, and Commerce, within 30 days to coordinate the strategy's implementation.
The Task Force must establish a charter, include acquisition executives and other agency representatives, and meet quarterly to review strategic alignment and progress accelerating FMS cases.
Furthermore, State, War, and Commerce must start publishing aggregate quarterly performance metrics related to FMS case development and the processing of export licenses.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise effect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of War.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 6, 2026.
The post Establishing an America First Arms Transfer Strategy appeared first on The White House.
This final section covers standard legal housekeeping provisions (General Provisions).
It clarifies that the order does not supersede existing statutory authority granted to any agency or affect the Office of Management and Budget's functions regarding budgets.
Implementation must align with existing law and available funding.
Importantly, it asserts that the order creates no new legally enforceable private rights or benefits.
Finally, it specifies that the Department of War is responsible for covering the costs associated with publishing the order.
The document is dated February 6, 2026, and signed by Donald J. Trump.