Washington: The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a fiscal 2027 appropriations bill that includes a US$500 million allocation for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Taiwan, alongside provisions supporting Taiwan's inclusion in international organizations.
According to Focus Taiwan, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act passed the House with a 217-209 vote. The House Committee on Appropriations announced that the legislation allocates a total of US$47.32 billion in discretionary spending, which is US$2.69 billion less than the fiscal 2026 bill.
The appropriations committee stated that the 6 percent reduction aligns with the U.S. administration's America First priorities. Despite the budget cuts, the bill continues to support U.S. allies such as Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Taiwan, aiming to counter threats from countries like China, Iran, Cuba, and drug trafficking organizations.
Committee Chairman Tom Cole emphasized the importance of standing with U.S. allies and countering adversaries. "It reinforces support for key allies - like Israel and Taiwan - and directly counters threats from Communist China and other regimes that challenge our interests and principles," Cole said. He added that the bill also seeks greater accountability from partners, highlighting the strength of shared responsibilities in alliances.
The bill mandates a minimum of US$500 million in FMF for Taiwan, with the U.S. secretary of state and defense secretary coordinating the prioritization of defense deliveries to Taiwan. Additionally, the bill outlines criteria for economic assistance, including cooperation on U.S. priorities such as migration, countering foreign adversaries, burden sharing, and support for Taiwan's participation in multilateral forums.
Further provisions allocate at least US$4 million from the National Security Investment Programs for the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), managed by the American Institute in Taiwan. The bill also prohibits the use of funds to produce or display maps that misrepresent Taiwan's territorial scope or its administrative regions.
As per U.S. legislative procedure, the bill must be passed in identical form by both the House and Senate before being presented to the president for signing into law.