FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 10, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Syrian Emergency Task Force and our allies are all committed to the complete and unconditional removal of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, an achievement yet to be accomplished. The Caesar Act has not yet been repealed. The legislative process remains ongoing, and the final text of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will be determined in conference negotiations between the House and Senate. These negotiations will decide whether language pertaining to Caesar is maintained, modified, or removed altogether.
The passage of the Senate version of the NDAA included a watered-down Lindsey Graham amendment. In this amendment, Caesar is repealed although conditions are laid out that the Syrian government must abide by; otherwise, it is the “sense of Congress” that the White House should reapply the Caesar Act. More importantly, this is one step in the overall process of passing an NDAA and is by no means the final version.
In order for the NDAA to become law, the House of Representatives has to negotiate what foreign affairs amendments it would agree to with the Senate, including Caesar. The House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate must also, in conference committee, agree to a unified final version of the NDAA that would ultimately be signed by the President. This means that the fight for the unconditional and full repeal of the Caesar Act is ongoing and more important than ever.
There are several possible scenarios moving forward:
- Through continued advocacy, media pressure, and bipartisan and bicameral negotiations, a full repeal without conditions of the Caesar Act may be approved in conference committee and will pass Congress, ready for President Trump’s signature.
- Through pressure from the Israeli government and other interest groups that have been advocating for conditioning Caesar or threatening “snap-back” sanctions, a worse version of the Graham amendment could be included in a final version of the NDAA.
- In conference, leadership in the House and Senate might not reach an agreement on language, leading to no mention of Caesar positive or negative in the NDAA.
“Whatever the NDAA outcome, the Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) remains committed to the full repeal of the Caesar Act, a step essential to U.S. national interests and regional stability as outlined by President Trump. SETF will continue working with U.S. lawmakers and partners to ensure that American policy toward Syria aligns with its core values and helps rebuild lives and institutions shattered by war,” said Veronica Zenetta Brandoni, SETF’s Director of Advocacy.
For inquiries, please contact: Maria Cure, Director of Communications
[email protected] www.setf.ngo
About the Syrian Emergency Task Force
The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) is a Syrian-American 501(c)(3) headquartered in Washington, D.C. Dedicated to advancing Syria’s future after the fall of the Assad regime, SETF supports a democratic transition, leads humanitarian efforts, and works to secure justice and accountability for war crimes committed by the regime and its allies. Today, SETF stands as the most notable American organization working on Syria, as evidenced by the impact it has made both on the ground in Syria and the U.S. SETF serves as a resource for education by bringing the voices of the Syrian people to the international stage. From testimonies at the UN Security Council to local grassroots community fundraisers, the team brings together like-minded people who are committed to rebuilding a peaceful, democratic Syria after enduring years of brutality under a repressive dictatorship.
