Press Releases

WASHINGTON - Congressman French Hill (AR-02) praised President Trump's decision to revoke several executive orders related to Syria, effective July 1, 2025, calling it a step that will give a post-Assad Syria the opportunity to forge a new future based on peace and pluralism.

Rep. Hill says, “I commend President Trump's decision to provide sanctions relief to Syria. This move is a significant step forward and will remove barriers for a post-Assad government, allowing it to engage in activities that will enable Syria to secure the resources needed to rebuild, while ensuring that any ongoing actions or penalties from previous sanctions remain in place.

“I've spent years in Congress fighting for the Syrian people, and the relatively positive developments in the first few months under the interim government give me some hope. For a free Syria to reintegrate into the international community, it must have the resources to rebuild its infrastructure, grow its economy, and establish a government that respects the rights of all Syrians. Lifting these executive sanctions provides an opportunity for this progress to occur.

“However, significant challenges remain, including ongoing threats from extremist groups and the need to navigate regional tensions to establish effective governance and promote national reconciliation. Success is not guaranteed, and it is imperative for the United States to continue monitoring the situation to ensure the new government remains committed to reform, stability, and pluralism.

“Yesterday's executive order is a positive step forward. It offers the Syrian people a chance to move beyond the brutal and devastating war and the horrific suffering endured over decades at the hands of the Assad regime.”

Background on Rep. French Hill's Work on Syria

Rep. French Hill has been deeply involved in shaping U.S. policy toward Syria, particularly in holding the Assad regime accountable for its war crimes and human rights abuses. The following are among his most significant contributions:

1.     Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act: Co-sponsored by Rep. Hill and signed into law in 2019, this act imposes broad sanctions on individuals and entities supporting the Assad regime's human rights violations.

2.     Combating Captagon Trafficking: Rep. Hill has been a leading voice in addressing the illicit production and trafficking of Captagon, a drug that funded the Assad regime's operations. He introduced two key pieces of legislation targeting this issue: the Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act, signed into law on April 24, 2024, imposing sanctions on Captagon traffickers, and the Countering Assad’s Proliferation, Trafficking, and Garnering of Narcotics (CAPTAGON) Act, incorporated into the FY 2023 NDAA, which requires a U.S. interagency strategy to disrupt Assad-linked narcotics trafficking.

3.     Syria Caucus Leadership: Rep. Hill serves as co-chair of the 'Friends of a Free, Stable, and Democratic Syria Caucus,' a bipartisan congressional group that advocates for freedom, human rights, accountability, the rule of law, and secular democracy for the Syrian people, making him one of the leading voices on Syria policy in Congress.

4.     Anti-normalization Legislation: In 2023, Rep. Hill co-sponsored legislation that would prohibit the U.S. government from recognizing or normalizing relations with any Syrian government led by Assad, expanding on the Caesar Act in response to efforts by Arab League countries to readmit Syria.

5.     Historic Syria Visit: In August 2023, Rep. Hill was part of the first congressional delegation to visit Syria in six years, meeting with the teachers and students at the Wisdom House School for Syrian orphans and with the White Helmets.

6.     Humanitarian Advocacy: Beyond legislation, Rep. Hill has worked to support the Syrian people and raise awareness of the ongoing atrocities. He also met with “Caesar,” the Syrian defector whose photographs documenting the regime’s violence and atrocities became a key part of the international body of evidence against Assad's regime.

Background on Executive Order: “Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions”

An executive order signed by President Trump on June 30, 2025, lifts comprehensive U.S. sanctions on Syria effective July 1, 2025, citing the “positive actions taken by the new Syrian government.” The order revokes multiple executive orders dating back to 1979, acknowledging that circumstances have been “transformed by developments over the past 6 months”

The Executive Order can be found by clicking HERE.