The Republican-controlled House passed two major pieces of legislation aimed at reshaping U.S. foreign aid and energy policy. First, the No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act (H.R. 260) seeks to prevent international funds, particularly those involving U.S. foreign aid, from reaching the Taliban. Proposed by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), the act responds to reports that most aid to Afghanistan ends up in Taliban hands. The legislation instructs the Secretary of State to develop a plan within 180 days to discourage international assistance to the Taliban, support Afghan women and former U.S. allies, and provide regular reports to Congress. While the measure enjoyed bipartisan support and passed via voice vote, Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) criticized the Trump administration for lacking transparency in its Afghanistan policies.
The second bill, the Protecting American Energy Production Act, passed by a 226-188 vote, bars presidents from imposing bans on oil and gas drilling—especially fracking—without congressional approval. Introduced by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), it directly targets energy restrictions implemented under President Biden, who halted drilling on over 600 million acres. Pfluger described the legislation as a countermeasure against what he calls Biden’s “war on energy.” The move aligns with Donald Trump’s pro-drilling stance. Meanwhile, a Quinnipiac poll revealed growing discontent among Democrats, with only 41% of Democratic voters approving of their lawmakers’ performance in Congress and just 21% approval from all voters, tying an all-time low. In contrast, 79% of Republican voters expressed satisfaction with congressional Republicans, though overall approval remains low at 32%.
