WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), introduced the AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act of 2025 today to safeguard U.S. taxpayer funds and hold the UN and African Union (AU) accountable in African peace operations.
“At the UN, our European partners are looking to skirt their financial commitments to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia by switching to a new imbalanced funding mechanism that pushes the burden on Americans. We can’t let that stand. This bill will prohibit U.S. contributions to AUSSOM under this new funding scheme until the AU and the UN can prove that they are using the funds they have responsibly and prevent Americans from being locked into perpetually funding a broken system,” said Chairman Risch.
"The AUSSOM Restriction Act would safeguard U.S. taxpayer dollars and prevent them from being spent in ways that don't advance America's national security interests, and I urge my colleagues to expeditiously advance it," said Senator Cruz.
Senator Rick Scott said, “The United States will not allow our tax dollars to be exploited by the UN while our partners refuse to pay their fair share, much less for a mission that fails to spend these dollars responsibly or transparently. I am proud to join my colleagues on the AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act to ensure Americans’ interests are put first, and their tax dollars spent wisely.”
The AU’s inability to meet the eligibility criteria and funding conditions asked of the U.S shows a disregard for the American taxpayer’s money. This bill aims to:
• Protect U.S. Taxpayer Funds: Prohibit U.S. financial contributions to AUSSOM under UNSCR 2719 and mandate U.S. opposition to any UN Security Council action enabling such funding.
• Ensure Rigorous Oversight: Require the Secretary of State to conduct annual, independent assessments of the AU’s compliance with UNSCR 2719 criteria for all AU-led peace operations.
• Enhance Transparency and Accountability: Mandate comprehensive reporting to Congress on the assessment findings, AUSSOM's performance and funding, and any U.S. contributions under UNSCR 2719.
• Strengthen Congressional Consultation: Expand existing State Department briefings to include specific updates on AU peace operations funded under UNSCR 2719.
Text of the bill is available here.
“The AUSSOM Restriction Act would safeguard U.S. taxpayer dollars and prevent them from being spent in ways that don’t advance America’s national security interests, and I urge my colleagues to expeditiously advance it.”
“The AUSSOM Restriction Act would safeguard U.S. taxpayer dollars and prevent them from being spent in ways that don’t advance America’s national security interests, and I urge my colleagues to expeditiously advance it.”