Trade & Technology
Conventional Defense Program
Managing the Arms Trade

Arms Trade Transparency

Highlighting the crucial role and inherent challenges of transparency in U.S. arms transfers and military assistance programs

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.

Project Team
Elias Yousif

Research & Writing

Commentary
Despite Promises, President Trump is Undermining Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability
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
Elias Yousif • Seth Binder
Commentary
Eroding What’s Left of Congressional Arms Transfer Oversight
How President Trump’s decision to defy the norms of Congressional consultation undermines one of the last meaningful mechanisms of arms transfer oversight
Elias Yousif
Policy Paper
The Hidden Costs: Transparency and the US Arms Trade
Exploring the urgent need for transparency in the US arms trade and identifying pathways for reform
Elias Yousif
Resource
Balancing Secrecy and Oversight: Navigating Familiar Barriers to U.S. Arms Trade Transparency
How transparency can navigate and confront the most common justifications for weapons trade secrecy – risks to operational security and proprietary commercial information
Elias Yousif
Commentary
Diminishing Transparency in the US Arms Trade
The declining quality and quantity of public reporting on U.S. arms transfers undermines transparency, oversight, and accountability
Elias Yousif
Resource
Bad and Getting Worse
Deteriorating public reporting on U.S. arms sales and military assistance is adding to the opacity of an already obscure enterprise
Elias Yousif
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