House passes foreign affairs funding bill with provisions on persecuted Christians in Nigeria

The House approved a fiscal 2027 appropriations bill funding the State Department and national security programs that ties part of U.S. assistance to Nigeria to protections for Christians from religious violence, according to Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Moore said the bill reflects his long-running push to address violence against Christian communities in Nigeria.

"Christians in Nigeria continue to endure horrific violence, murder, and persecution while a majority of the world turns a blind eye to their suffering," he said. "President Trump has taken bold actions to strike the terrorists in Nigeria, and this bill sends a clear message that the United States will continue to stand with persecuted Christians across the globe, especially in Nigeria."

"The bill conditions U.S. assistance to Nigeria on tangible progress in protecting Christians, particularly in addressing the threat posed by Fulani terrorists and returning internally displaced people to their ancestral lands," Moore said. "The bill also provides funding to support training and increasing accountability for police forces in Nigeria, and reaffirms the recommendations made in my recommendations to President Trump."

The legislation also directs the State Department to report to Congress and the president on efforts needed to end targeted violence against Christians in Nigeria. Additional provisions would fund programs to combat ritualized killings and organ trafficking in Africa, strengthen oversight of foreign assistance, and prohibit the use of federal funds for censorship activities targeting American citizens, according to Moore's office.

Beyond Nigeria, the bill prioritizes funding to counter threats from China, Iran, the Taliban, and transnational criminal organizations while eliminating funding for several Biden administration initiatives related to climate programs; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; and gender-related policies, according to Moore’s office.

Moore said the measure also preserves longstanding pro-life provisions, including the Helms, Hyde-Lantos, Kemp-Kasten, Siljander, and Tiahrt amendments.

"This important bill also holds foreign governments accountable and ensures American taxpayer dollars advance our national interests," Moore said. "I was proud to secure provisions that strengthen accountability, combat human trafficking, protect free speech, push back on mass migration, and advance President Trump's America First foreign policy."

The version of the bill that passed the House goes further. An amendment from Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., adopted by voice vote on the floor, raised the share of Nigeria assistance subject to withholding from 50% to 100%, according to the House Republican Cloakroom's official amendment tracker for the bill. The underlying certification requirement, that the secretary of state confirm Nigeria has taken "effective steps to prevent and respond to violence and hold perpetrators accountable," was left unchanged.

In a post on X announcing the amendment's passage, Steube said, "American taxpayers should NEVER bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered. No more wasteful foreign aid!"

The full bill passed the House by a vote of 217-209 on July 15, according to the House Clerk's official roll call.