Washington, January 7, 2025: Congressman Tim Burchett has urged President-elect Donald Trump to end U.S. foreign aid allegedly benefiting the Taliban. In a letter to Trump, Burchett expressed concerns about American taxpayer dollars indirectly supporting what he described as “terrorists.”
Burchett claimed that during the 118th Congress, it was revealed that U.S. foreign aid under the Biden administration was indirectly funneled to the Taliban. “When I questioned Secretary Antony Blinken, he admitted that non-governmental organizations paid nearly $10 million in taxes to the Taliban,” Burchett wrote.
He also raised concerns about untraceable cash shipments sent to Afghanistan’s central bank, warning they could be exploited by the Taliban. “These cash shipments are auctioned off, making them almost impossible to trace. This is how the Taliban funds itself and global terrorism,” he alleged.
The congressman referenced a 2023 bill he introduced to curb foreign governments’ financial support for the Taliban and improve transparency in cash assistance programs involving Afghanistan’s central bank. “My bill passed the House unanimously, but then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blocked it in the Senate. I intend to reintroduce it in the 119th Congress and welcome your support,” he told Trump.
Burchett concluded by urging Trump to prioritize cutting wasteful foreign aid. “The U.S. should not be funding its enemies abroad,” he wrote, calling for immediate action to prevent American funds from indirectly supporting the Taliban.
