Florida Senator Rick Scott has reintroduced the Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act, legislation aimed at prohibiting any direct or indirect U.S. funding from reaching the Gaza Strip unless the president can certify that no American taxpayer dollars are benefiting Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any other U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations.
The bill, reintroduced last week, comes amid continued concern over the use of international aid in conflict zones and is co-sponsored by Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
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Under the proposed legislation, the president would need to certify that:
- No funds are being used to benefit Hamas or similar terror organizations.
- All hostages currently held by Hamas have been released.
- Aid distributed via international organizations, including the United Nations, is not directed toward entities that promote antisemitic or anti-Israel ideologies.
“Iran-backed Hamas terrorists are evil people who kill babies in cold blood, rape and murder young women, and kidnap and hold hostage Americans and Israelis, as they have for nearly 540 days now,” Scott said in a statement. “Until Hamas is destroyed and out of Gaza for good, the United States cannot commit U.S. tax dollars to aid the region knowing these terrorists will use it to fuel their terror.”
Scott credited the renewed urgency to the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, praising the administration’s “commitment to defending Israel, combating terrorism, and ensuring tax dollars are spent in Americans’ best interests.”
Senator Ted Budd echoed Scott’s concerns, stating, “Hamas is a terrorist organization with American blood on its hands. Not one penny of hard-earned American taxpayer dollars should make its way to them, even indirectly.”
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Senator Shelley Moore Capito added, “This legislation is a necessary step to uphold our national security, protect our allies, and ensure transparency and accountability in foreign assistance.”
The bill follows growing scrutiny over U.S. foreign aid to Gaza, particularly as Hamas—officially designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department—continues to maintain control in the territory and engage in armed conflict with Israel.
If passed, the legislation would impose strict conditions on any humanitarian or development aid routed through U.S. agencies or multinational organizations working in Gaza.
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