WASHINGTON - The Biden administration will withhold $130 million in foreign security assistance to Egypt for a second time, symbolically penalizing Cairo for its human rights record while also aiming to maintain diplomatic ties with this Middle Eastern ally.

After temporarily freezing financial aid to Egypt last year for a review, Washington said in January it would "reprogram" $130 million in security assistance to Egypt-a fraction of an estimated $1.3 billion in aid the U.S. generally gives Egypt each year.

The Biden administration has repeatedly called on Egypt to do more to protect the rights of political critics, members of civil society and journalists. ... In 2021, Mr. Sisi announced a new strategy aimed at protecting human rights and subsequently began releasing some political prisoners.

Activists and American officials said the efforts did not go far enough. The administration said the decision to again withhold $130 million comes as it looks to persuade Mr. Sisi's regime to release additional political prisoners and continue working with the US on issues of regional concern, such as ongoing Israeli-Palestinian tensions.