Memorandum on Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
Issued 2016-08-05 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This memorandum allows the Secretary of State to authorize up to $28,970,312 from the 2015 Economic Support Fund for stabilization programs in Syria. The President is transferring decision-making authority that Congress gave him under the Foreign Assistance Act to the Secretary of State, who can then determine whether providing this assistance serves U.S. security interests. The memorandum specifies that this money can be used "without regard to any other provision of law" that falls under this section of the Foreign Assistance Act.
This action affects how foreign assistance decisions are made within the executive branch and ultimately impacts Syria, where the funds would support stabilization efforts. The specific nature of these stabilization programs is not detailed in the memorandum itself.
This matters because it redirects existing foreign aid money toward a specific crisis situation. Rather than the President personally making each determination about the aid, the Secretary of State now has the authority to make those judgments about whether the assistance is important to U.S. security interests. The memorandum operates under existing congressional authority from the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, though it allows certain legal restrictions to be waived for this specific purpose.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This presidential memorandum ("Memorandum on Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961") provides direction to executive branch agencies. The stated purpose: "provide assistance for stabilization programs in Syria." Presidential memoranda function similarly to executive orders but are typically more narrow in scope, addressing specific agencies or implementation details. The President's authority to direct executive branch operations is grounded in Article II of the Constitution.
Memoranda are a routine administrative tool. They guide agencies on priorities, interpretation of statutes, and implementation procedures. As long as they operate within the bounds of existing law and respect congressional mandates, they are a standard exercise of presidential power that every modern administration has used.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Memorandum on Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 August 5, 2016 Memorandum for the Secretary of State Subject: Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, subject to fulfilling the requirement of section 614(a)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), I hereby delegate to you the authority under section 614(a)(1) of the FAA to determine whether it is important to the security interests of the United States to furnish up to $28,970,312 of Fiscal Year 2015 Economic Support Fund resources without regard to any other provision of law within the purview of section 614(a)(1) of the FAA, in order to provide assistance for stabilization programs in Syria. You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register . B ARACK O BAMA [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., August 17, 2016] N<FONT