Congress is considering potential responses to the killing of prominent Saudi Arabian journalist and former diplomatic advisor Jamal Khashoggi. Some Members of Congress have requested additional information from the executive branch, raised the prospect of targeted U.S. sanctions, or introduced legislation to limit security cooperation with Saudi Arabia until the executive branch makes a determination concerning Saudi government involvement.

Khashoggi, an outspoken, self-exiled critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abd al Aziz Al Saud, was killed by Saudi government personnel on October 2 during his visit to the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Khashoggi had resided in the United States since 2017, but he was not a lawful permanent resident. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death have yet to be definitively established. The Saudi government originally denied that its personnel were involved in Khashoggi's disappearance or death, but, on October 19, claimed that Saudi government personnel had accidentally killed Khashoggi in the consulate. Saudi officials have detained some individuals they accuse of responsibility for the incident and dismissed or reassigned some senior advisors and intelligence officials. U.S. officials are reviewing related information. President Trump and his top aides have consulted with counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Turkey and welcomed both governments' pledges to conduct thorough investigations.

U.S.-Saudi relations are close and multifaceted, reflecting decades of economic, diplomatic, energy, and security cooperation. Differing policy preferences with regard to governance, human rights, and regional affairs have tested relations at times. The United States provides limited foreign assistance to Saudi Arabia, but security and defense cooperation is substantial and rooted in billions of dollars in congressionally reviewed sales of U.S. defense articles and services. Bilateral intelligence and counterterrorism partnerships are well developed and mutually valued. U.S.-Saudi relations have remained transactional, and current patterns of cooperation would be challenging and costly for either side to significantly modify or replace.

Some Members of Congress are considering options for responding to the Khashoggi case to achieve different and potentially competing goals. These include

The potential security, diplomatic, and/or economic repercussions for the United States of various courses of action are uncertain and appear contingent on evolving conditions and the choices of others. Congress could act directly or require executive branch action, or it could authorize executive branch actions pursuant to presidential determinations or waivers. Members may change their views about the appropriate nature and/or duration of different responses as new facts emerge, including information regarding official Saudi involvement, and as the U.S. and Saudi governments make decisions.

Possible options for congressional action considered or invoked to date include proposals related to the following:

The 115th Congress also has debated U.S. support to Saudi-led coalition military operations in Yemen and potential U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation, reflecting congressional concerns about regional security, humanitarian conditions, and nuclear nonproliferation. Some in Congress may seek to link concerns about the Khashoggi case to these or other issues, including energy and investment ties. Others may argue against linkage, or seek to preserve the status quo. Related issues include these: