Merkley and Markey introduce measure to block Saudi civilian nuclear program deal by Senate vote

Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Ed Markey of Massachusetts introduced legislation in the Senate aimed at blocking President Donald Trump’s deal that would allow Saudi Arabia to build a civilian nuclear program. The measure takes the form of a joint resolution of disapproval, a legislative tool that would require Senate action after a set deadline tied to the executive agreement, according to The Hill.

The resolution would set up a floor vote after Nov. 29. Under the process described by the senators’ initiative, the disapproval vote would be triggered following that date, giving lawmakers an opportunity to reject the agreement rather than relying solely on oversight after the fact.

Merkley and Markey said they are concerned about the agreement’s implications for nuclear proliferation risk and the governance of a Saudi civilian nuclear program. They argued that the arrangement effectively enables Saudi Arabia to advance nuclear capabilities under a civilian framework, while raising broader national security and enforcement questions that they say warrant congressional scrutiny.

The effort reflects a recurring strategy in Congress over major international nuclear cooperation arrangements. Joint resolutions of disapproval are designed to provide a formal mechanism for lawmakers to weigh in when an agreement is submitted for congressional consideration under applicable statutory authorities, as opposed to leaving the decision entirely to the executive branch.

The Hill reported that the senators’ measure was filed Thursday and that it would proceed to a Senate vote after Nov. 29. The resolution would thus serve as a procedural hurdle for the deal during the window when Congress is permitted to act, rather than an immediate repeal of the agreement at the moment of introduction.

Once the vote is scheduled, the Senate would determine whether to move forward with or reject the disapproval resolution. If the resolution were to advance and be adopted in line with the Senate’s procedures, it would mark the lawmakers’ formal rejection of the agreement and constrain the executive branch’s ability to implement the nuclear cooperation terms as described in the administration’s deal.

The Trump administration did not appear in the reported summary of the senators’ filing, and the Hill account did not detail a specific administration response in the portion referenced. Supporters and opponents are expected to continue disputing how the agreement should be evaluated under U.S. law and safeguards arrangements for civilian nuclear activity.

In the meantime, the legislative timeline set by the proposed resolution means congressional consideration would be centered on the late-November window specified in the measure. Whether the Senate votes along party lines or considers amendments would determine how quickly the dispute moves from introduction to a recorded, chamber-level decision.