A bipartisan pair of lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, arguing that the country has made significant strides since the ousting of former dictator Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024, according to a letter shared exclusively with The Hill.
The letter was addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and signed by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina. Both lawmakers have been active on foreign policy issues in their respective chambers.
What the Right Is Saying
Rep. Wilson, a senior Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, echoed Shaheen's call but emphasized the need for verifiable commitments before any formal removal takes effect.
The South Carolina congressman has long advocated for holding state sponsors of terrorism accountable and stressed that while political changes are encouraging, past designations were based on documented support for terrorist organizations.
Wilson's office noted that any removal must be accompanied by robust verification mechanisms to ensure Syria does not revert to policies that prompted the original designation in 1979.
What the Left Is Saying
Sen. Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, argued that removing Syria from the list represents an opportunity to support a new government committed to fighting terrorism rather than harboring it.
The letter stated that Syria's new leadership has taken concrete steps to address concerns raised by previous administrations and that continued designation could undermine efforts to build a constructive relationship with a transformed nation.
Shaheen noted that the December 2024 political transition marked a fundamental change in Syria's trajectory, warranting a reevaluation of U.S. policy toward Damascus.
What the Numbers Show
Syria was originally designated as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, making it one of the longest-standing designations on the list. The country joins Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela on the current State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
The designation carries significant economic penalties, including restrictions on U.S. foreign aid, arms sales, and controls over dual-use exports. Removal would lift these automatic sanctions and open pathways for normalized trade relations.
Syria has not been delisted since its original designation, surviving multiple regime changes and international negotiations over the past four decades.
The Bottom Line
The bipartisan push reflects a rare moment of agreement between Democratic and Republican lawmakers on foreign policy toward a nation that has been a consistent U.S. concern since the Carter administration. Whether the Trump administration moves forward with removal will depend on ongoing assessments of Syria's new government and its willingness to meet conditions set by the State Department.
Critics note that even sympathetic observers want assurances that terrorist organizations previously allowed to operate in Syrian territory will face renewed pressure under the new leadership. The letter signals congressional support for engagement but stops short of mandating a timeline for action.