Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced the Stop Funding Global Terrorists Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at ensuring U.S. taxpayer dollars are not funneled to terrorist organizations like the Taliban through United Nations (UN) aid programs in Afghanistan.
According to Scott, the legislation seeks to address alarming reports of mismanagement and diversion of U.S. funds, which have allegedly benefited terrorist groups.
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The bill, co-sponsored by Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), would prohibit U.S. contributions to the UN for assistance to Afghanistan until the State Department certifies that:
- No U.S. funds are included in UN cash shipments into Afghanistan.
- No Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization or Foreign Terrorist Organization will receive any funds through such contributions.
Scott emphasized the urgency of the legislation, stating, “The United Nations has an alarming habit of allowing funds to flow to terrorists and bad actors that don’t align with the United States’ values and wish to bring harm to the free world. The Stop Funding Global Terrorists Act says that until the United Nations can absolutely ensure that the Taliban and terrorist organizations do not receive a single tax dollar intended for Afghanistan from United States taxpayers, they won’t be getting a single tax dollar. It’s that simple.”
Senator Shelley Moore Capito echoed these concerns, highlighting the Taliban’s oppressive regime and its impact on Afghan women and girls. “The American people do not support their taxpayer dollars funding terrorism,” Capito said. “This bill will ensure that U.S. funds are not included in UN cash shipments to Afghanistan or being diverted to benefit the Taliban—a repressive regime that has stripped virtually every right from women and girls in Afghanistan. If the UN can’t properly account for U.S. funding provided to Afghanistan, they should not be trusted with it.”
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The legislation comes in response to a May 2024 report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which revealed that at least $10.9 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars had been diverted to the Taliban.
According to SIGAR, this figure is “likely only a fraction of the total amount of U.S. assistance funds provided to the Taliban in taxes, fees, duties, and utilities,” as UN agencies receiving U.S. funds failed to collect data or provide relevant information about payments to sub-awardees.
From October 2021 through September 2023, the UN received $1.6 billion in U.S. funding for Afghanistan programming, accounting for approximately 63% of all U.S. aid to Afghanistan during that period. Testimony from SIGAR to the House Foreign Affairs Committee in March 2024 detailed the various tactics used by the Taliban to divert aid dollars for their own benefit, further underscoring the need for accountability.
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The Stop Funding Global Terrorists Act has garnered bipartisan support, with lawmakers from across the political spectrum recognizing the importance of safeguarding U.S. taxpayer dollars. Senator Tom Cotton emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “We cannot allow a single cent of American money to fall into the hands of terrorists. This bill ensures that our aid reaches those who need it most, not those who seek to harm us.”
Senator Katie Britt added, “This legislation is a commonsense step to protect American interests and ensure that our generosity is not exploited by those who wish us harm.”
The bill is expected to move through the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations before reaching the floor for a vote.
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