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Fifty-one MPs are calling on House negotiators to preserve dollars flowing into a visa program for Afghans fleeing the Taliban’s hold on their country.
Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, wrote to the House of Representatives’ top appropriators. as they continue to negotiate federal funding for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2025.
“We are writing to urge you to preserve important provisions for the Special Afghan Immigrant Visa (SIV)1 program in the fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations package. Authorizing new Afghan SIVs is critical to review and relocate. Qualified Afghan primary applicants currently in the pipeline,” they wrote to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., and others.
It comes as President Donald Trump promises to pursue significant spending cuts in the upcoming fight over federal funding. He wrote in Truth Social last week that “The United States will cut hundreds of billions of dollars in spending next year through reconciliation!”
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Lawmakers call for maintaining Afghanistan visa program This is because President Trump has pledged to significantly reduce spending. (Getty Images)
People in Trump’s orbit Including the Republicans in the House of Representatives. They are pushing for him to have more control over spending money appropriated by Congress.
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Both have positioned themselves as influential players in the congressional spending debate as well. They led the protest against the 1,547-page government funding bill that was the result of bipartisan negotiations. They did not say where they want Congress to withdraw the spending.
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Reps. Jason Crow and Zach Nunn, both veterans. Leading letters from both sides (Getty Images)
51 lawmakers call for preservation of Afghanistan’s SIV program argue that this project is “A lifeline to the safety of Afghans who face grave danger as a result of working alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and contractors.”
“Congress must continue this work. To enable the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue visas to eligible Afghans. which faces an imminent threat from the Taliban. Islamic State and other hostile groups Because of serving the United States and our partners,” they wrote.
The Afghan SIV project was first announced in 2009 but received new attention after the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, prompting the United States to Withdrawal in Middle Eastern countries after decades
Congress has approved additional visas under the program every year since fiscal year 2019, according to the letter.
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Congressional negotiators have so far failed to reach agreement on fiscal 2025 spending, forcing lawmakers to pass two expansions of last year’s funding levels to prevent a thin government shutdown. part
The latest extension is called a Continent Resolution (CR), giving lawmakers until March 14 to come to an agreement.
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