U.S. House Votes to Withhold Aid to Nigeria Over Persecution

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment sponsored by Congressman Gregory Steube to withhold 100% of U.S. aid to Nigeria until the Nigerian government takes specific actions to address violence against Christians.

The amendment was passed by a voice vote as part of the fiscal 2027 State Department spending bill, which later passed with a vote of 217 to 209, largely along party lines. Steube's amendment raises the threshold from an earlier proposal that sought to withhold 50% of funds until the U.S.

Secretary of State certified that Nigeria was taking effective steps to prevent violence and hold perpetrators accountable. The amendment does not introduce new conditions but strengthens existing ones related to foreign aid.

Steube criticized the Nigerian government for failing to address the horrific violence faced by Christians, linking the withholding of aid to the need for accountability in the face of ongoing persecution.