Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-102
§421 Contracts by Government Agencies for Defense Articles, Services, Etc., for Foreign Governments in Interests of United States
Title 22 › CHAPTER 9 — FOREIGN WARS, WAR MATERIALS, AND NEUTRALITY › SUBCHAPTER I — WAR MATERIALS › § 421
Summary
The President can let department or agency heads make contracts to provide defense items, information, or services to foreign governments he thinks are vital to U.S. defense. Those governments must agree to pay before getting anything and keep making payments as the President requires. The total unpaid contract amount cannot exceed $600,000,000 at any time.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §421
Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The President may, from time to time, when he deems it in the interest of national defense, authorize the head of any department or agency of the Government, to enter into contracts for the procurement of defense articles, information, or services for the government of any country whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States, to the extent that such government agrees to pay the United States for such defense articles, information, or services prior to the receipt thereof and to make such payments from time to time as the President may require to protect the interests of the United States; and, upon payment of the full cost, the President may dispose of such articles, information, or services to such government: Provided, That the total amount of the outstanding contracts under this section, less the amounts which have been paid to the United States under such contracts, shall at no time exceed $600,000,000.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 421
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102