The US House of Representatives yesterday passed a defense appropriations bill totaling US$838.7 billion, allocating US$1 billion to reinforce security cooperation with Taiwan and US$150 million to replace defense articles provided to Taiwan.
These defense appropriations are part of the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2026, which the House yesterday passed with 341 votes in favor and 88 against.
The act must be passed by the US Senate before Friday next week to avoid another government shutdown.
Photo: Taipei Times file photo
The US House Committee on Appropriations on Monday unveiled the act, saying that it allocates US$1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative (TSCI) and US$150 million to replace and reimburse defense articles provided to Taiwan.
The act states that the US Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) should set aside US$1 billion of its allocated funds to support the TSCI, with the funds available for use through Sept. 30 next year.
The DSCA defines the initiative as an effort to support Taiwan’s self-defense by strengthening its military and government security agencies to deter coercion and aggression, or enhancing the abilities of its government civilian agencies to oversee and support military and security forces.
The funding would be used by the US secretary of defense in coordination with the US secretary of state to assist Taiwan in procuring new defense equipment, services, and military education and training, the bill says.
The defense secretary would be required to submit quarterly reports to the US Congress on the use and status of the funds, it says.
In addition, the bill authorizes up to US$16.8 million to support an Asia-Pacific initiative, enabling the US Indo-Pacific Command to conduct security cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance, training and joint exercises with partners.
Allocating US$150 million to replace defense items sent to Taiwan would allow the US military to transfer equipment to Taiwan when needed, while Congress would pay to buy new items to refill US stockpiles, an informed source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In the past, the US has drawn items directly from active-duty military stockpiles to provide to Taiwan under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, but these items arrived in poor condition due to administrative lapses, the source said.
With the dedicated funding, the US could order equivalent or upgraded replacements from defense contractors, improving transparency and quality control, they said.
US civilian and military leaders have also tightened oversight, requiring strict inspections to ensure transfers meet proper standards, they added.
Additional reporting by Lo Tien-pin
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