Paul isn't the only lawmaker calling for suspension of aid to Egypt. | AP Photos Paul, Dems call to halt aid to Egypt

President Barack Obama’s decision to scrap a joint training exercise with the Egyptian military didn’t go far enough for Rand Paul.

Because Obama has yet to suspend the $1.3 billion in annual military aid to Egypt, the Kentucky senator said the administration is continuing to support violent Egyptian armed forces despite Obama’s denunciation Thursday of the hundreds killed in Egypt amid ongoing unrest.


Paul successfully pushed for a vote on his amendment to eliminate assistance Egypt last month and move the money into infrastructure repair, but the amendment failed and was opposed by 86 senators.

( Also on POLITICO: Obama condemns Egypt violence)

“While President Obama ‘condemns the violence in Egypt,’ his administration continues to send billions of taxpayer dollars to help pay for it. The law is very clear when a coup d’état takes place, foreign aid must stop, regardless of the circumstances,” Paul said Thursday. “Mr. President, stop skirting the issue, follow the law, and cancel all foreign aid to Egypt.”

The Democratic response was more positive, with wide support for Obama’s decision to suspend Operation Bright Star, a biennial training exercise scheduled for September this year. But Democratic calls for Obama to suspend aid to Egypt following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi continued after Obama skirted the topic on Thursday.

“While suspending joint military exercises as the president has done is an important step, our law is clear: aid to the Egyptian military should cease unless they restore democracy,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who is working with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on legislative language that would impose conditions on assistance to Egypt.

( Also on POLITICO: Obama's full remarks)

Egypt receives about $1.5 billion in total annual aid and has received more than $70 billion total since 1948, the most of any country other than Israel, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Leahy isn’t alone among Democrats who see the sudden removal of Morsi as a coup — Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) has also called for aid suspension until elections are scheduled. Indeed, worry over delay in Egypt elections continues among congressional Democrats, who also joined Obama in calling for Egypt’s state of emergency to be lift.

“We call on the interim government, military, and all involved parties to put an end to these deadly confrontations and come together to restore faith in a truly representative government through an open drafting process for the country’s constitution, and inclusive presidential and parliamentary elections,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).