House Advances Measure Targeting Foreign Funding of the Taliban
In a decisive move underscoring national security priorities, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved legislation designed to crack down on foreign funding that may benefit the Taliban.
The legislation, titled the No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act (H.R. 260), makes clear that U.S. foreign policy must “oppose the provision of foreign assistance by foreign countries and nongovernmental organizations to the Taliban, particularly those countries and organizations that receive United States-provided foreign assistance.” The bill reflects growing Republican concern that American taxpayer dollars—directly or indirectly—could be propping up a regime hostile to U.S. interests and values.
Burchett: Americans Shouldn’t Fund Their Enemies
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who introduced the legislation, spoke bluntly on the House floor Monday, citing conversations with Afghans who have resisted Taliban control.
“According to them, nearly all of the cash aid sent to Afghanistan ends up in the hands of the Taliban,” Burchett stated. “Mr. Speaker, they will hate us for free. We do not need to give them hard-earned American tax dollars.”
Burchett’s remarks highlight a broader frustration among conservatives who argue that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan created a dangerous vacuum—one that now risks being sustained by international aid flows lacking proper oversight.
The bill requires the Secretary of State to formulate a strategy within 180 days aimed at discouraging foreign governments and NGOs from providing assistance to the Taliban. It also directs the administration to outline ways to support Afghan women and former U.S. military allies while keeping Congress informed through regular reporting on aid efforts.
Democrats Voice Concerns About Transparency
Although the measure passed with bipartisan support by voice vote and no objections, some Democrats criticized what they described as insufficient transparency from the Trump administration regarding its broader regional strategy.
“There is not a consensus about what the Trump administration is doing on Afghanistan, because they won’t tell us,” Jackson stated. “We urgently need more information and assurances from the Trump administration about their priorities in Afghanistan and now Iran.”
Despite those objections, the bill now heads to the Senate for final consideration.
House Strengthens Protections for American Energy Production
The House also delivered another significant legislative victory for President Donald J. Trump, the current President of the United States, by passing the Protecting American Energy Production Act.
The measure, approved by a 226–188 vote, prohibits future presidents from unilaterally banning hydraulic fracturing without congressional authorization. Specifically, it bars any president from “declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes the moratorium.”
All Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 118 Democrats opposed it.
Reversing Biden-Era Energy Restrictions
The legislation follows actions taken by former President Joe Biden in the final weeks of his administration, when he banned oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of coastal and offshore waters and imposed additional restrictions on domestic energy development.
Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), who introduced the bill, argued that it was a necessary response to what many conservatives viewed as a coordinated effort to undermine American energy independence.
“When President Biden took office, his administration took a ‘whole of government’ approach to wage war on American energy production, pandering to woke environmental extremists and crippling this thriving industry,” Pfluger said in a statement following the bill’s passage.
“My legislation that passed today is a necessary first step in reversing Biden’s war on energy by preventing the federal government from banning the use of hydraulic fracturing,” he said.
President Trump has consistently championed domestic energy development under his “drill, baby, drill” platform, framing energy independence as both an economic and national security imperative. If signed into law, the measure would prevent future administrations from imposing sweeping fracking bans without congressional approval.
Further reinforcing that commitment, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced internal reviews of agency actions that “burden” energy development, targeting what he described as “coercive” climate mandates and oil lease restrictions implemented under the previous administration.
Democrats Face Internal Dissatisfaction
The legislative momentum for Republicans comes as Democrats appear increasingly divided. A new national poll from Quinnipiac University reveals that a majority of Democratic voters are dissatisfied with their party’s performance in Congress.
According to the survey, 53% of Democratic respondents disapproved of congressional Democrats’ job performance, while only 41% expressed approval—an indication that frustration within the party’s base is mounting.
As House Republicans advance policies centered on national security, energy independence, and constitutional limits on executive authority, the Senate’s next moves will signal whether these priorities gain further traction—or face partisan resistance.