Recent moves and statements by members of the U.S. Congress have opened the door and revived hopes for the repeal of the “Caesar Act” sanctions imposed on Syria since 2019. This comes despite the Committee on Rules’s rejection on Tuesday of an attempt to attach the repeal to the U.S. defense budget, following efforts led by Congressman Joe Wilson and others. The development follows a decision issued by President Donald Trump last June to end all executive sanctions imposed on Syria.
An Obstacle to Reconstruction
The “Caesar Act” sanctions imposed on Syria represent one of the most significant barriers to economic activity, investment, and reconstruction. Amid concerns among major regional and international companies about the consequences and restrictions resulting from this law imposed by Washington, after starting investment operations inside Syrian territory,. This makes lifting the law an essential step for initiating economic recovery, reconstruction, and ultimately achieving stability.
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Efforts Toward Final Repeal
On Tuesday, the Committee on Rules rejected a bill recently introduced by Congressman Joe Wilson, which sought to attach the repeal of the “Caesar Act” to the upcoming U.S. defense budget. Nevertheless, the proposal remains before the Senate for debate in the coming weeks, where its inclusion in the budget remains possible. Last week, Wilson expressed hope that the “Caesar Act” would be repealed entirely this month, telling Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that he expects Congress to approve his bill.
However, the Congressman tied the repeal of the sanctions to conditions guaranteeing the unity of Syria as a state that includes Druze, Alawites, Kurds, and Bedouins. He praised President Donald Trump’s swift action to lift sanctions on Syria, an effort that typically takes years, while voicing opposition to Israeli airstrikes and incursions in Syrian territory. He emphasized that “a stable Syria is good for business” and said he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Syria should be given a chance.
Meanwhile, Congressman Marlin Stutzman, speaking at an event in the Capitol organized by the Syrian American Alliance For Peace & Prosperity last week, declared that “the devastation left by Bashar al-Assad is immense, but those days are behind us. There is excitement about moving forward, building a new Syria, and the opportunities there are vast.” He added that he had “never in his life been more enthusiastic about developments in the Middle East than today.”
Congressional Momentum
Imad Akoush, an economist and financial markets expert based in Beirut, said that Congressman Joe Wilson argued when introducing the bill that the regime targeted by the Caesar Act no longer exists. He noted that the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity met with several members of both the House and Senate, receiving preliminary support from four lawmakers for repealing the law. They also met with Senator Rand Paul, who had previously introduced a similar initiative. Reports suggest relative consensus within Congress, along with a positive stance from the Trump administration toward Syria.
Akoush emphasized that while some members of Congress encourage lifting the Caesar Act to support Syria’s reconstruction, others remain cautious, insisting on safeguards given concerns about Syria’s commitment to democratic standards and human rights. Even with support, the bill must pass through committees, secure approval in both chambers, and receive President Trump’s final signature, a complex process often hindered by partisan balances and rivalries.
Trump Supports Lifting Sanctions
Syrian politician Kamal al-Labwani, based in Sweden, explained that President Trump’s administration is determined to lift sanctions on Syria, and all attempts to block the effort have failed. Trump, he said, has the leverage to secure the repeal because it was a fundamental condition for Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s cooperation with Israel.
In remarks to +963, al-Labwani added that there is strong support for al-Joulani (President Ahmad al-Sharaa) from Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Qatar. He alleged that corruption deals involve Trump’s sons, his son-in-law, and Erdoğan’s sons, framing Syria as a potential hub for money laundering. According to al-Labwani, the sanctions will eventually be lifted, though implementation will remain conditional as a tool of pressure on the government.
Congressman Joe Wilson was part of the U.S. delegation led by envoy Thomas Barrack and joined by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, which visited Damascus on August 25 and met with President Ahmad al-Sharaa. After the visit, Wilson posted on X that Congress must support President Trump and pass a full repeal of the Caesar Act, praising Barrack’s efforts to foster peace between Syria and Lebanon.
For its part, the “Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity” announced last week on X that it “continues to work with determination to lift sanctions and open the path to peace and prosperity in Syria,” focusing on advocacy, education, and humanitarian initiatives to strengthen understanding between Syrians and Americans.
Akoush believes the alliance (SAAPP) is capable of exerting pressure through extensive meetings with Congress members, already gaining preliminary support from some. He added that Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia have shown support, engaging the U.S. administration to back Syria’s reconstruction, though their influence remains diplomatic rather than decisive legislatively.
In late June, President Trump signed an executive order lifting sanctions on Syria. U.S. officials at the time said that the Syrian government had taken significant steps toward enhancing stability, prompting Washington to end the national emergency status regarding Syria that was first declared in 2004. The decision also included a possible review of Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and directed the State Department to reconsider the classification of “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.”
The executive order, however, keeps sanctions in place on ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his aides, human rights violators, ISIS, Iran’s proxies, and those involved in chemical weapons programs. It also eases export restrictions on certain goods, grants specific exemptions on foreign aid restrictions, and directs the State Department to explore avenues for sanctions relief through the United Nations in support of stability.
It should be noted that the United States imposed the “Caesar Act” sanctions on the ousted Syrian regime in 2019, with enforcement beginning in 2020. The law led to severe economic consequences, including the collapse of the Syrian pound, skyrocketing prices, and shortages of essential goods. The legislation was named after Syrian officer-turned-defector Farid al-Madhaman, known by the code name “Caesar,” who smuggled thousands of photographs documenting torture and abuses inside Assad’s prisons.
