Title: U.S. Lawmakers Call for Reduction of Military Aid to Egypt

A group of U.S. House members, on Thursday, demanded a reduction in military aid provided by the United States to Egypt over concerns related to human rights. The lawmakers, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee member Gregory Meeks, stated, "Thousands of Egyptians, including journalists, peaceful civil society activists, human rights defenders, and political figures, remain detained on politically motivated charges and often face abuses, mistreatment, and medical neglect." Recently, a group of 11 Senate members led by Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East, sent a letter to the administration requesting the withholding of $300 million in aid. Washington regards Cairo as a strategic partner and an important ally in a troubled region, and has repeatedly stated its commitment to supporting its legitimate defense needs. Approximately $300 million of the $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid to Egypt is subject to an annual review of the country's human rights situation. Last year, the Biden administration withheld $130 million from that amount due to Cairo's human rights record.