Biden delegates authority for up to $571.3 million in defense support for Taiwan

President Joe Biden used a December 20, 2024 memorandum to delegate authority to the secretary of state to direct a drawdown of up to $571.3 million in defense articles, Defense Department services, and military education and training for Taiwan. The authority came from section 506(a)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which lets the president move U.S. defense resources quickly for foreign-policy needs. The action came as China continued military pressure around Taiwan and as the United States separately approved additional Taiwan arms sales. The civic stake is direct: Congress creates these foreign-assistance powers, the president decides when to use them, and agencies then carry out the transfer of U.S. military resources.