Following the House of Representatives’ approval of a bill aimed at preventing terrorist groups from accessing U.S. aid, Senator Tim Sheehy has announced the introduction of the legislation in the Senate.
Sheehy, a Montana senator and veteran of the war in Afghanistan, is spearheading the effort to ensure that the Taliban does not benefit from U.S. humanitarian assistance. If enacted, the No Taxpayer Funding for Terrorists Act would impose strict oversight measures to prevent American taxpayer funds from reaching terrorist organisations.
In a statement, Sheehy expressed his commitment to stopping U.S. funds from being misused. “After years of fighting terrorists, I am honoured to lead the effort to prevent them from using American taxpayer dollars,” he said. “For those of us who lost friends in these wars, it is infuriating to see our money ending up in the hands of Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and the Taliban.”
Sheehy, alongside Senators Tommy Tuberville and Bill Hagerty, formally introduced the bill in the Senate, stressing the urgency of ensuring that taxpayer funds do not support terrorist groups. He further highlighted the importance of fiscal responsibility, stating that the U.S. national debt had reached $36 trillion and was continuing to rise, making it even more critical to eliminate unnecessary expenditures.
The Senate bill mirrors legislation introduced in the House of Representatives in January by Congressman Tim Burchett. That legislation mandates the U.S. government to report on the management of cash assistance programmes in Afghanistan and outline the safeguards in place to prevent funds from reaching the Taliban.
If passed, the bill will require the U.S. Department of State to establish a formal policy opposing any form of aid to the Taliban. Additionally, it mandates the compilation of a report identifying countries that have provided financial assistance to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan since 2021. The legislation also calls on the U.S. government to collaborate with international partners to prevent financial support from reaching terrorist organisations.
Members of Congress are working to advance the bill and send it to President Donald Trump for final approval. Trump has previously cut multiple U.S. foreign aid programmes, particularly those related to Afghanistan.
