The United States House of Representatives has adopted an amendment sponsored by Congressman Gregory Steube that would withhold 100% of U.S. assistance to Nigeria until the country meets specific conditions aimed at addressing ongoing violence and protecting vulnerable communities.
The amendment, approved by a voice vote on Wednesday, was added to the fiscal year 2027 State Department appropriations bill, which the House later passed by a vote of 217–209.
Announcing the development on X, Steube wrote:
*”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 bill had originally proposed withholding 50% of U.S. assistance until the Secretary of State certifies that Nigeria has taken effective steps to prevent violence, respond to attacks, and hold perpetrators accountable. Steube’s amendment increases the withholding to 100% while keeping the same certification requirements.
Speaking on the House floor, Steube said Nigeria has experienced a prolonged wave of violence that its government has failed to address adequately. He argued that withholding only half of the aid would continue rewarding a government that has not fulfilled its basic responsibility to protect its citizens.
“Foreign aid should never be a reward for failure,” Steube said, adding that with the U.S. national debt approaching $40 trillion, American taxpayers should not be funding governments that fail to address such serious human rights concerns.
The measure has not yet become law. It must still pass the U.S. Senate and be signed by the President before it can take effect. Until then, the vote does not immediately change existing U.S. assistance to Nigeria.
The House action follows the Trump administration’s 2025 redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of religious persecution. Although the United States and Nigeria continue to cooperate on counterterrorism efforts against extremist groups operating in northern Nigeria, concerns over religious violence and government accountability remain a major point of contention in Washington.