During a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that Turkey's potential reinstatement into the F-35 program is not under consideration due to existing U.S. laws. Rubio responded to questions from Democratic Congresswoman Dina Titus regarding comments made by U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, about Turkey's possible return to the program. He emphasized that Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system led to its removal from the F-35 initiative, a decision mandated by U.S. legislation. Rubio clarified that the legal framework, including provisions from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), prohibits any consideration of Turkey's re-entry. He stated, "Turkey was a member of the program but that stopped when it proceeded with the purchase of the S-400 from the Russians." This statement underscores the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Turkey regarding defense procurement and international relations.