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Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-110

§2333 International Border Security

Title 50 › CHAPTER 40 — DEFENSE AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION › SUBCHAPTER II — INTERDICTION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND RELATED MATERIALS › § 2333

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Defense must run programs, working with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to help customs and border guards in the independent states of the former Soviet Union, the Baltic states, and other Eastern European countries stop the illegal movement of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons and related materials. Help can include training, expert advice, equipment loans and maintenance, and audits. The Secretary can also do these programs in other countries if a significant threat of such illegal transfers exists. Aid may be given to a newly independent state of the former Soviet Union even if another law would bar it, but only if the President certifies to Congress that it is in the national interest.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §2333

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Secretary of Defense responsibility
The Secretary of Defense, in consultation and cooperation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall carry out programs for assisting customs officials and border guard officials in the independent states of the former Soviet Union, the Baltic states, and other countries of Eastern Europe in preventing unauthorized transfer and transportation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and related materials. Training, expert advice, maintenance of equipment, loan of equipment, and audits may be provided under or in connection with the programs.
(b)Other countries
The Secretary of Defense may carry out programs under subsection (a) in a country other than a country specified in that subsection if the Secretary determines that there exists in that country a significant threat of the unauthorized transfer and transportation of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons or related materials.
(c)Assistance to states of former Soviet Union
Assistance under programs referred to in subsection (a) may (notwithstanding any provision of law prohibiting the extension of foreign assistance to any of the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union) be extended to include an independent state of the former Soviet Union if the President certifies to Congress that it is in the national interest of the United States to extend assistance under this section to that state.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–375 amended heading and text of subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Of the total amount authorized to be appropriated by section 301, $15,000,000 is available for carrying out the programs referred to in subsection (a).”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection” substituted for “Commissioner of Customs” in subsec. (a) on authority of section 802(d)(2) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6, Domestic Security.

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.

Executive Documents

Delegation of Authority Memorandum of President of the United States, July 24, 1997, 62 F.R. 40727, provided: Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, I hereby delegate to you, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the authority vested in the President under section 1424(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 (Public Law 104–201) [50 U.S.C. 2333(c)]. You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. William J. Clinton.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 2333

Title 50, War and National Defense

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110