Blinken and State Department spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comments sent by email and text.
The United States gives Egypt $ 1.3 billion a year in military aid. Of that, Congress has put $ 300 million in human rights-related conditions. But the secretary of state can overturn those conditions and allow aid to reach Cairo, which has been the usual measure.
The U.S. official said the administration planned to give $ 170 million of the $ 300 million to Egypt, but would withhold the remaining $ 130 million until the Egyptian government meets unspecified human rights conditions.
The $ 170 million, however, can only be used for certain functions, such as the fight against terrorism, border security and non-proliferation, areas allowed under a certain statute provision that covers aid.
The $ 130 million withheld is a sum reached by the Biden administration due to certain limitations set forth in the fund statutes.
President Joe Biden and Blinken, their chief diplomat, have said they are committed to promoting human rights, even when it comes to allied countries led by dictators like Egypt’s Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Several highlights Democratic lawmakers have pushed the administration to fulfill this ideal and retain Egypt for $ 300 million. They note that, among other things, Sisi has imprisoned tens of thousands of people for political reasons.
Among the most prominent voices urging Biden to retain the entire $ 300 million was Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). He recently told POLITICO that he would not be satisfied with a compromise measure like the one the Biden administration has taken.
“The law is the law. The law says you cannot provide that $ 300 million unless you can certify that there have been demonstrable advances in human rights. These advances have not been achieved, “Murphy said at the time.” I am also concerned that a medium measure will not make anyone happy. The Egyptians will continue to feel as if they have been slapped in the face, but the world will not all the moral impact. “
Sisi has found ways to be useful in the United States. This includes cooperating in the fight against terrorism and maintaining a cold peace with Israel. Earlier this year, Egypt helped achieve a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas militant group in Gaza.
Sisi met on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to talk in the tourist city of the Red Sea, Sharm El-Sheikh. It was like that the first public meeting between an Israeli and Egyptian leader in more than a decade, and they are likely to like Washington, which is eager to improve relations between Israel and its neighbors.