The U.S. House of Representatives passed a spending package on Wednesday to fund parts of the government ahead of another potential shutdown. But it’s what got left out of the legislation that is drawing the ire of many Republican lawmakers and voters.
The spending package included two bills, appropriating funds for several federal departments and agencies, including the State Department, Treasury Department, IRS and Federal Trade Commission, Politico reported. However, an amendment proposed by U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) to cut all funding to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) — roughly $315 million — was voted down, with 81 Republicans joining Democrats to defeat it.
Many people online, including conservative talking heads, voters and other lawmakers, were quick to condemn the Republicans who voted against the amendment, claiming that the NED — which tech billionaire Elon Musk, during his tenure as co-chair of the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE), called a “scam” that was “rife with corruption” — had become a riddle with waste and fraud and was little more than a vehicle to spread leftist ideology and censorship.
“Tonight, the Uniparty rejected my amendment to defund NED. 81 ‘republicans’ voted with democrats to fund this rogue organization that fuels global censorship and domestic propaganda,” Crane said in an X post following Wednesday’s vote.
In Alabama’s delegation, U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) voted against the measure, while U.S. Reps. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) and Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) voted in favor. U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) also voted against the amendment.
Aderholt admitted the NED may have become wasteful under the Biden administration but argued it could still be used for good with the right leadership.
“President Reagan urged Congress to create the NED in 1983 as a tool for the United States to project strength and defeat socialism around the world, a fight that continues today,” Aderholt told 1819 News. “One of the biggest critics of NED has been China, because they see it as a direct counter to their own 'Belt and Road' initiative to spread their influence. While I have no doubt the Biden Administration allowed this program and its funding to drift into waste (like they did with so many things), I have full confidence that President Trump and his Administration will ensure these funds are used as President Reagan intended: to confront radical left ideology and advance freedom around the globe.”
Rogers said that shutting down the NED would only benefit China's advancement on the world stage.
“Needlessly shuttering the National Endowment for Democracy accomplishes nothing but the advancement of the CCP’s global initiatives,” he said in a statement to 1819 News. “A complete closure of NED would result in a vacuum of U.S. global influence that the Chinese state would happily fill. I always vote in favor of cutting back on irresponsible spending, but as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, it’s my duty to fight foreign propaganda and its advancement.”
Strong claimed the NED was needed to combat the spread of communist ideas and Marxism and to defend "persecuted Christians."
“As communist ideologies continue to spread, the United States must act decisively to counter threats to American interests and national security, and we must give President Trump every tool to advance the America First agenda and counter anti-conservative movements around the world," he told 1819 News. Under President Trump's leadership, the NED's mission will be carried out as President Reagan intended when he established it — confronting socialism and Marxism, promoting American interests, and defending persecuted Christians.”
Conversely, Palmer also said the NED has "strayed" from President Ronald Reagan's intent and instead pushes "left-wing ideologies" across the globe.
"The National Endowment for Democracy has strayed far from its original intent and become a champion for left-wing ideologies," Palmer told 1819 News. "President Ronald Reagan established the NED as part of the effort against the Soviet Union. I voted in favor of yesterday's amendment to stop funding the NED because the NED has devolved from its mission of promoting American interests.”
Moore said he voted to defund the NED to ensure money stops being wasted and "reassess" the organization's role in advancing "America First foreign policy.”
“Congress must be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, especially when oversight and accountability are lacking,” said Moore. “The National Endowment for Democracy has drifted far beyond its original mission. I have serious concerns about transparency and its involvement in sensitive foreign political conflicts. This amendment was a commonsense step to pause funding, reassess NED’s role, and ensure U.S. tax dollars align with an America First foreign policy.”
In a statement of policy memo sent out Wednesday, President Donald Trump encouraged lawmakers to pass the spending package and said he would sign it into law in its current form.
The House still has four spending bills to pass to avoid a shutdown by the January 30 deadline.
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