Dozens of House lawmakers rally around funding Afghan visa program as Trump vows major spending cuts

In a bipartisan effort, a group of 51 lawmakers is advocating for the continuation of funding for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. Led by Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), the lawmakers penned a letter to House appropriators urging them to prioritize provisions for the Afghan SIV program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriations package.

The Afghan SIV program serves as a vital lifeline for Afghan nationals who are in imminent danger due to their work alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and contractors. The lawmakers stressed the importance of authorizing new Afghan SIVs to ensure the safety and relocation of qualified Afghan applicants currently in the processing pipeline.

The program, first established in 2009, gained renewed significance following the rapid takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2021, prompting the U.S. military withdrawal from the country. Since FY 2019, Congress has continuously authorized additional visas under the program to support Afghan allies facing threats from hostile groups like the Taliban and ISIS.

As negotiations for FY 2025 funding continue, lawmakers are striving to prevent a lapse in funding that could jeopardize the safety of Afghan nationals awaiting visas. The recent extension of last year’s funding levels, known as a continuing resolution (CR), grants lawmakers until March 14 to reach a consensus and avoid a partial government shutdown.

In the midst of these funding discussions, President-elect Trump has pledged significant spending cuts in the upcoming year. With allies like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy leading an advisory panel on cost-cutting, there is a growing push for greater oversight on how congressionally appropriated funds are allocated.

The bipartisan efforts to safeguard the Afghan SIV program underscore the commitment of U.S. lawmakers to uphold their promise to protect Afghan allies who risked their lives to support American military efforts in the region. As negotiations unfold, the fate of the Afghan SIV program hangs in the balance, with lawmakers advocating for its preservation in the face of mounting national security concerns.