The United States House of Representatives on July 18 passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026, which includes US$500 million for Taiwan, the Focus Taiwan CNA newspaper reported.

The bill, which totals $831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote.

According to the bill, the funds for Taiwan will be administered by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency and will remain available through Sept. 30, 2027, for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.

The legislation authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Defense, with the agreement of the U.S. Secretary of State, to use the funds to assist Taiwan in procuring defense articles and services, and military training.

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed an amendment to remove the US$500 million in Taiwan-related funding from the bill.

Speaking on the House floor, she argued that the amount marked a $100 million increase from the previous year.

Greene claimed that “increasing foreign aid to Taiwan will only increase their reliance on the United States” and said the U.S., with its $37 trillion in national debt, could not afford to continue foreign assistance to “other countries.”

Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said “Taiwan is threatened by the People’s Republic of China” and warned that other nations, including the Philippines, would also be at risk “if Taiwan falls.”

“This bill will assist Taiwan in preparing their military, increasing their readiness and their deterrence capabilities,” the CNA reported quoting McCollum as saying.

Under U.S. law, the bill must pass the U.S. Senate in the same form before it can be sent to the president for signing. The Trump administration “strongly urged” Congress to raise its appropriations for strengthening Taiwan’s defenses to NT$29.41 billion (US$1 billion). 

The White House’s Office of........

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