Project
Arms Trade Transparency
Highlighting the crucial role and inherent challenges of transparency in U.S. arms transfers and military assistance programs
About the Project
As the world’s largest arms exporter, the United States has a special responsibility to ensure its security cooperation, military assistance, and arms transfers adhere to the highest standards of oversight and accountability. The Arms Trade Transparency Project explores the importance of transparency in fostering more responsible U.S. arms transfer practices and supporting legislative and public scrutiny and oversight, to ensure that arms transfer decisions reflect enduring U.S. interests, commitments, and values. The project provides clear recommendations for the executive and legislative branches to enhance transparency and foster accountability in the U.S. arms trade.
Research & Writing
Commentary
After citing waste and fraud in U.S. foreign aid, the Trump administration is dismantling a key mechanism for transparency and oversight in international assistance
September 3, 2025
Commentary
How President Trump’s decision to defy the norms of Congressional consultation undermines one of the last meaningful mechanisms of arms transfer oversight.
June 4, 2025
Policy Paper
Exploring the urgent need for transparency in the US arms trade and identifying pathways for reform.
December 16, 2024
Resource
How transparency can navigate and confront the most common justifications for weapons trade secrecy – risks to operational security and proprietary commercial information.
September 23, 2024
Commentary
The declining quality and quantity of public reporting on U.S. arms transfers undermines transparency, oversight, and accountability.
July 9, 2024
Resource
Deteriorating public reporting on U.S. arms sales and military assistance is adding to the opacity of an already obscure enterprise.
June 18, 2024
Commentary
A look at how a bill raising the value threshold for arms sales notifications poses a risk to congressional and public oversight.
February 1, 2024
Commentary
How the United States can learn from its experience in Ukraine to improve oversight and transparency of the military aid effort for Israel.
November 3, 2023
Policy Paper
Examining reporting patterns and identifying good practice for Ukraine’s arms suppliers
August 18, 2023
Commentary
The United States’ transparency on military aid in Ukraine demonstrates it can do the same for aid to other partners as well.
August 18, 2023
Recent Publications
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Sub-Projects
There are no subprojects associated with this project.
Events
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