A federal lawsuit filed by U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas claims that the Biden administration is illegally funding Palestinian terrorism with American tax dollars.
The case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Amarillo Division alleges that President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are violating the Taylor Force Act by allowing U.S. funds to benefit the Palestinian Authority (PA).
According to The Center Square, the lawsuit was filed in December 2022 by America First Legal on behalf of Rep. Jackson and two other plaintiffs. The legal action claims that the U.S. government has sent over $6.3 billion to the Palestinian Authority since 1993, despite concerns about the PA's funding of terrorism.
The Taylor Force Act, signed into law in 2018, prohibits U.S. funds from benefiting the Palestinian Authority unless it terminates its prisoner and martyr fund. This fund reportedly pays salaries to imprisoned terrorists and provides rewards to family members of deceased terrorists.
Rep. Jackson expressed his concerns about the alleged violation of this act, stating, "The president is breaking the law by allowing our tax dollars to fund terrorism in Israel, and he must be stopped."
The lawsuit contends that the Trump administration had halted funding to the PA due to its refusal to discontinue the controversial martyr fund. However, it alleges that the Biden administration has since resumed financial support to the region.
The legal complaint asserts that the current administration has sent approximately $1.5 billion to the region, including $500 million for "Economic Support Funds" in Gaza and the West Bank. Additionally, it claims that $1 billion was allocated to the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA).
These funding decisions have come under scrutiny, particularly after the discovery that UNRWA was allegedly housing a Hamas headquarters under a hospital. This revelation prompted 23 U.S. attorneys general to call for a complete halt to UNRWA funding by Congress.
The Biden administration has attempted to dismiss the lawsuit but has so far been unsuccessful. The court required the administration to comply with several demands and stated that it was plausible that the administration had circumvented the Taylor Force Act.
In response to these allegations, the Biden-Harris administration maintains that U.S. taxpayer money is not being used to fund terrorism. They point to recent actions, such as the Department of Justice filing terrorism and murder charges against six Hamas leaders, as evidence of their commitment to combating terrorism.
AFL Senior Vice President Reed Rubinstein offered a stark assessment of the situation:
The October 7 atrocities were, in part, a natural, ordinary, and predictable consequence of Biden's illegal, irrational, and disgraceful policies.
The ongoing legal battle highlights the complex nature of U.S. foreign aid in the region and the challenges of balancing humanitarian support with security concerns. As the case proceeds, it continues to raise questions about the oversight and allocation of U.S. funds in politically volatile areas.
The lawsuit alleges that the Biden administration is violating the Taylor Force Act by sending funds to the Palestinian Authority. It claims that over $6.3 billion has been sent since 1993, with recent allocations including $1.5 billion under the current administration. The case remains before the U.S. District Court, with the administration maintaining that U.S. taxpayer money is not funding terrorism.
