Memorandum on Delegation of Authority Under Section 404(c) of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008

On August 3, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued a memorandum titled "Memorandum on Delegation of Authority Under Section 404(c) of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008." This action delegates specific powers related to the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 to the Secretary of State. Specifically, the Secretary of State is now authorized to waive a prohibition found in section 404(a) of the Act and to make the necessary decisions and certifications for these waivers. The Secretary of State is also directed to notify appropriate congressional committees of such waivers and publish the decisions in the Federal Register.

This memorandum directly affects the Secretary of State by granting them this new authority, and it provides direction to executive branch agencies. Presidential memoranda like this one are a routine administrative tool used by the President to direct executive branch operations, guide agencies on priorities, and implement existing laws. The President's authority to issue such directives is grounded in Article II of the Constitution, and they are considered a standard exercise of presidential power used by every modern administration, provided they operate within existing law and respect congressional mandates.

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