Maria Cantwell - Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Maria Cantwell - Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has sent a letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, seeking information about the White House’s Drone Task Force. This inquiry follows a recent Houthi drone attack near the U.S. Consulate in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Cruz's letter addresses concerns that over $100 billion has been allowed to flow to the Iranian regime by the Biden administration. These funds are reportedly used for military and terrorist activities, including the production of "suicide drones" built primarily with American components. The letter demands answers regarding efforts to restrict Iran's access to these components.
“The Iranian regime has engaged in the use and mass proliferation of loitering munitions – so-called suicide drones – by its own forces, Russia, and its terrorist proxies across the Middle East for decades," wrote Cruz. "Those munitions are being used to attack U.S. servicemembers and our allies, including Israel and Ukraine, and more broadly to undermine American national security interests."
Cruz further stated that “Military production of the drones is financed by funds available to the Iranian regime, including roughly 100 billion dollars that the Biden administration has allowed to flow to the Ayatollah. However, the construction of the drones is enabled by the regime’s access to American components, and indeed the drones are built almost entirely from components produced by U.S. companies.”
He highlighted that U.S. export and trade restrictions aim to prevent such acquisitions by rogue regimes like Iran but suggested there might be a lack of will or ability on part of the current administration.
“These drones are made almost entirely of American components," Cruz continued, "including ones cannibalized from other machines or transferred through third- or fourth-party distributors using convoluted routes." He pointed out that despite claims from the administration about restricting access, there have been no updates on actions taken since an 'expansive task force' was launched in December 2022.
The senator is requesting a briefing from the White House Drone Task Force along with details about its creation, members, activities, and communications.
Read the full text of Sen. Cruz’s letter HERE.
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