U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) reintroduced the Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Radicalism (PAGER) Act today, a legislative effort aimed at halting American financial support to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) until Lebanon severs all ties with Hezbollah and its affiliates.
The bill comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. aid to Lebanon, with critics arguing that funds have indirectly bolstered the Iranian-backed terrorist group despite decades of investment totaling over $3 billion.
The PAGER Act seeks to impose strict conditions on U.S. assistance, prohibiting aid until the Secretary of State certifies that Lebanon has met several benchmarks: ending recognition of Hezbollah, its political wing Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, and the affiliated Amal Movement; barring individuals linked to these groups from ministerial roles; complying with UN Security Council Resolution 1559 to disarm militias like Hamas; terminating the LAF’s ties with Hezbollah, Iran, and other foreign terrorist organizations; destroying Iranian-supplied weaponry; and dismissing charges against Americans persecuted for exposing Hezbollah’s influence.
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“While the world celebrates the demise of Hassan Nasrallah, the United States must remain vigilant to the threat of Hezbollah,” Steube said in a statement. “Until the people of Lebanon can live free of Hezbollah’s terror and persecution, long-term peace and stability in the Middle East will remain out of reach.” Referencing the Trump administration’s efforts to strengthen ties between Israel and Arab nations, Steube added, “My PAGER Act will ensure U.S. tax dollars never end up in the hands of Hezbollah.”
The legislation also targets the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), barring U.S. funding due to alleged corrupt financial ties with Lebanese military officials. Additionally, it mandates biannual congressional reports on Hezbollah’s regional activities, aiming to increase transparency and accountability.
The bill has garnered endorsements from prominent organizations, including the American Mideast Coalition for Democracy (AMCD) and the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET). Tom Harb, Co-Chair of AMCD, praised the PAGER Act as a critical step toward restoring Lebanese sovereignty.
“By pressuring the Lebanese government and Lebanese Armed Forces with a limited time to disarm Hezbollah and other militias, as called for by the United Nations in UNSC Resolution 1559 of 2004, progress can be made toward re-establishing a functioning, pluralistic civil society in Lebanon,” Harb said. He emphasized the bill’s time-sensitive conditions as key to countering Hezbollah’s infiltration of Lebanon’s government and military.
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Sarah N. Stern, Founder and President of EMET, echoed these sentiments, noting that despite recent Israeli military successes against Hezbollah’s leadership, the group retains significant influence within Lebanon’s new government under Prime Minister Naif Salam and President Joseph Aoun.
“The Lebanese Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, has very strong ties to Hezbollah and its Shia ally, Amal,” Stern said. “This enabled Hezbollah to name four Cabinet ministers, including the very important Ministry of Finance.” She urged the LAF to fulfill long-standing UN mandates to disarm Hezbollah, as outlined in Resolutions 1559 and 1701, introduced in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
The reintroduction of the PAGER Act follows reports of Hezbollah’s continued dominance in Lebanon, even after the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah in a 2024 Israeli airstrike. Critics of U.S. policy, including Steube, have long argued that American aid to the LAF—intended to counter Hezbollah—has instead propped up a military intertwined with the terrorist group. The Biden administration’s allocation of over $117 million in security assistance to the LAF in January 2025 drew particular ire, with some alleging it indirectly supported Hezbollah amid a fragile ceasefire with Israel.
Steube’s bill builds on his previous efforts, including amendments to annual appropriations bills to cut LAF funding. With the Trump administration signaling a hardline stance against Iran and its proxies, the PAGER Act aligns with broader Republican efforts to curb Tehran’s regional influence.
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