Have Congress appropriate funds for persecuted religious minorities

What has happened

1. Jun 30, 2026 Partially done

   The Department reported the resulting spending to Congress: humanitarian assistance in FY2025 for persecuted religious minority groups in Iraq (more than $46 million in Migration and Refugee Assistance and nearly $4 million in International Disaster Assistance), for the Rohingya (nearly $35 million MRA, nearly $134 million IDA) and in Syria (more than $133 million IDA and Title II food assistance, more than $86 million MRA), continuing into FY2026.

   • Report to Congress: Assistance for Victims of Religious Persecution, Crimes Against Humanity, and Ethnic Cleansing

     Primary Executive branch Jun 30, 2026

   • Report to Congress on Expansion of International Religious Freedom Activities

     Primary Executive branch Jun 18, 2026

2. Feb 3, 2026 Partially done

   Congress appropriated the money, to the Department of State rather than to USAID and without reference to Executive Order 13926. Section 7033 of the FY2026 act makes not less than $40 million available for international religious freedom programs under the responsibility of the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, prioritized for countries of particular concern; requires International Humanitarian Assistance funds to be made available "for humanitarian assistance for vulnerable and persecuted ethnic and religious minorities, including victims of genocide designated by the Secretary of State"; and authorizes National Security Investment Programs funds for ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria notwithstanding any other provision of law.

   • Public Law 119-75 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Division F, National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs)

     Primary Congress Feb 3, 2026