Washington: The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has unveiled its fiscal 2027 national security and State Department funding bill, which earmarks at least US$500 million for military assistance to Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program. This significant allocation underscores ongoing U.S. support for Taiwan's defense capabilities amid regional tensions.
According to Focus Taiwan, the FMF is a U.S. State Department initiative designed to assist allies and partner countries in acquiring American military equipment, services, and training through U.S.-funded aid. The recently released bill stipulates that "not less than US$500 million shall be made available for assistance for Taiwan," with an emphasis on prioritizing the delivery of defense articles and services to the island nation. Additionally, the bill mandates that no allocated funds be used to produce or showcase any map inaccurately depicting Taiwan's territorial and socio-economic status.
In its statement, the committee highlighted that the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Bill for 2027 designates a total discretionary budget of US$47.32 billion. This figure represents a reduction of US$2.69 billion, or 6 percent, from the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level, aligning with the America First agenda's priorities. Despite these funding cuts, the NSRP bill ensures continued substantial support for allies, including Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Taiwan, while addressing threats from adversaries such as China, Iran, and Cuba, and combating drug cartels, some of which are classified as foreign terrorist organizations.
For the bill to become law, it must pass both the House and Senate in identical form before being presented to the president for signing.