House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Block Taliban Funding, Boosts American Energy Policy

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation aimed at cutting off international financial support to the Taliban, marking a significant bipartisan step toward reshaping American foreign aid policy in Afghanistan.

The bill, titled the No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act (H.R. 260), asserts that it is the official foreign policy of the United States to oppose financial support—whether from foreign nations or international non-governmental organizations (NGOs)—to the Taliban, especially when those entities receive assistance from the U.S. government.

Sponsored by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), the legislation passed with a voice vote and no opposition on the House floor, signaling rare bipartisan alignment on a key foreign policy issue.

Burchett emphasized that Afghans resisting Taliban rule have directly warned him that much of the international cash aid sent to Afghanistan is ultimately benefiting the militant group.

“According to those on the ground, nearly all of the cash aid sent to Afghanistan ends up in the hands of the Taliban,” Burchett said. “They will hate us for free—we don’t need to pay them to do it with American tax dollars.”

Under the proposed legislation, the Secretary of State is required to draft a comprehensive plan within 180 days to discourage foreign countries and organizations from aiding the Taliban. The bill also calls for developing new mechanisms to assist vulnerable Afghan populations, including women and former U.S. military partners, while providing regular updates to Congress on the flow of aid into Afghanistan.

Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), although supportive of the bill, used the occasion to criticize past handling of Afghan policy, particularly during the Trump administration. Jackson argued that Congress was often left in the dark regarding Trump-era foreign policy in Afghanistan and neighboring Iran.

“There’s not a consensus about what the Trump administration is doing in Afghanistan because they won’t tell us,” Jackson stated. “We urgently need more transparency and accountability regarding U.S. strategy in the region.”

Energy Legislation Reinforces Trump’s “Drill, Baby, Drill” Agenda

In a separate legislative move, House Republicans recently passed the Protecting American Energy Production Act, designed to protect domestic oil and gas drilling operations from future federal restrictions.

The measure, which passed by a vote of 226–188, would prevent any president from unilaterally banning hydraulic fracturing—commonly known as fracking—without congressional approval.

All House Republicans voted in favor of the bill, joined by a few Democrats, while the majority of Democratic lawmakers opposed it.

The legislation follows executive actions taken by former President Joe Biden, who, late in his term, issued sweeping bans on new oil and gas drilling leases across more than 600 million acres of federally managed land and coastal waters.

Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), who authored the bill, framed the legislation as a direct counterattack to Biden’s energy policies, which he described as hostile to American fossil fuel development.

“When President Biden took office, his administration declared war on American energy,” Pfluger said after the vote. “Today’s bill is a first step toward reversing that damage and restoring energy independence by protecting fracking from political interference.”

Former President Donald Trump has long promoted expanded domestic energy production, promising on the campaign trail to fully unleash America’s fossil fuel capacity. The House vote reinforces his “drill, baby, drill” platform and is seen as another legislative victory aligned with his energy agenda.

If signed into law, the bill would restrict the ability of future administrations to impose nationwide bans on fracking without first securing congressional approval—essentially locking in the practice as a key component of U.S. energy policy.

Public Confidence in Congress Slumps

The legislative flurry comes as new polling reveals a stark decline in public confidence in congressional leadership—particularly among Democrats.

A Quinnipiac University poll conducted from June 5 to 8 found that just 21% of American voters approved of how congressional Democrats are performing, while 70% disapproved. Among Democratic voters specifically, only 41% expressed approval, with 53% disapproving—a sign of growing discontent within the party’s base.

That 21% approval rating marks an all-time low in Quinnipiac polling since the question was first posed in March 2009.

Republicans in Congress fared slightly better, with 32% of all voters approving of their job performance and about 60% disapproving. However, Republican lawmakers continue to enjoy strong support from within their party: 79% of GOP voters said they approved of their performance, while only 13% disapproved.

Looking Ahead

The No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act now moves to the Senate, where its bipartisan backing in the House may give it a smoother path to passage. Meanwhile, the energy production bill faces a tougher challenge in the upper chamber, where Democratic control and environmental concerns may slow or halt its progress.

Together, these two pieces of legislation reflect a sharpened Republican strategy: hardline foreign policy aimed at hostile regimes and renewed support for domestic energy independence—both central tenets of Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign platform.