The Trump administration sent a classified U.S.-Saudi nuclear pact to Congress, triggering review.
Why it matters: Congress now has a chance to block the agreement or force changes before it takes effect. Lawmakers' review centers on whether the deal leaves open proliferation risks tied to enrichment and reprocessing.
- The classified Section 123 civil nuclear agreement was submitted Aug. 25, 2026, under the Atomic Energy Act.
- Congress now has 90 days of continuous session to review the deal before it can take effect absent disapproval.
- The agreement was signed in Washington in July 2026 by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman.
- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said the deal appears to lack a legally binding ban on key nuclear-material pathways and does not include the IAEA Additional Protocol.
The Trump administration has formally sent a classified U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement to Congress, starting the statutory review process under the Atomic Energy Act. The Department of Energy said the accord will now be transmitted to lawmakers, and the administration says Congress has 90 days of continuous session to act before it can take effect unless lawmakers pass a joint resolution of disapproval. AP
The agreement was signed in Washington in July by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman, but the text has not been publicly released. The Energy Department described the deal as a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement. Energy Department
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said the agreement appears to lack a legally binding ban on Saudi production of key nuclear-material pathways and does not include the IAEA Additional Protocol. Her criticism echoes concerns from arms control experts that those limits are central to proliferation safeguards. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Arms Control Association
AP reported that critics in Congress worry the pact could enable Saudi uranium enrichment and raise proliferation and regional competition risks. The Saudi government had not publicly commented on AP's report at publication time. AP
By the numbers
- 90 days - Congress' continuous-session review window before the deal can take effect absent disapproval.
- Aug. 25, 2026 - the date the classified agreement was submitted to Congress.
Yes, but: A congressional review does not automatically kill the deal - lawmakers would need to act to stop it, and the final text remains unpublished.
What's next: Congress will now review the classified agreement during the 90-day continuous-session window.