A source inside the U.S. Congress told Global Justice that U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has introduced an amendment to the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to extend the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act through 2028. This move reinforces the U.S.’s ongoing stance against normalization with the Assad regime in Syria.
The amendment builds upon the groundwork laid earlier this year when the House Armed Services Committee passed the “Hope for Syria” Act, a Syria-specific provision included in the defense budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The amendment also aligns with advocacy efforts by three Syrian-American organizations—Global Justice, the Syrian Emergency Task Force, and Citizens for a Secure and Safe America—who have been actively working to ensure these measures are included in the final defense budget.
While the extension of the Caesar Act is seen as a positive step, critics point out that this move may be a political strategy to balance Senator Cardin’s image after he killed the Assad Anti-Normalization Act (AAA) earlier this year. Key elements of the proposed legislation include maintaining the sanctions imposed under the Caesar Act and expanding them to cover high-ranking officials within the Syrian government. This initiative is a direct response to increasing concerns over human rights abuses, as well as Syria’s manipulation of humanitarian aid and its role in the regional drug trade.
The proposed amendment is expected to undergo further discussion and modifications before final approval, with a vote likely before the end of the year.
