The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment sponsored by Congressman Gregory Steube seeking to withhold all U.S. assistance to Nigeria until the country meets specific conditions aimed at addressing violence and ensuring accountability for perpetrators.
The amendment, adopted by a voice vote on Wednesday, was attached to the fiscal year 2027 State Department appropriations bill, which the House later passed by a 217–209 vote, largely along party lines.
Announcing the development on X, Steube said, “My amendment to withhold 100% of U.S. aid to Nigeria until its government stops the slaughter of Christians has passed.
“American taxpayers should never bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered. No more wasteful foreign aid!”
The underlying spending bill had initially proposed withholding 50 percent of funds allocated to Nigeria until the U.S. Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has taken effective steps to prevent and respond to violence and hold those responsible accountable.
Steube’s amendment increases the proposed withholding from 50 percent to 100 percent while retaining the same certification requirements.
Speaking on the House floor, the Florida Republican argued that Nigeria has experienced a prolonged wave of violence that the government has failed to adequately address. He said withholding only half of the aid would amount to rewarding a government that had failed in its basic responsibility to protect its citizens.
“This amendment does not create any new conditions. It simply strengthens the existing accountability measures,” Steube said, adding that “foreign aid should never be a reward for failure.”
He also tied the proposal to U.S. fiscal concerns, questioning why Washington should continue providing assistance to Nigeria while America’s national debt is approaching $40 trillion.
Despite the House vote, the measure has not yet become law. It must still be approved by the Senate and signed by President Donald Trump before it can take effect. As a result, Wednesday’s vote does not immediately alter U.S. assistance to Nigeria.
The development comes amid heightened tensions in U.S.-Nigeria relations following President Donald Trump’s 2025 redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of religious persecution against Christians.
