WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) introduced the Aid Accountability Act of 2025 which would create a “funding death penalty” for any federal employee or non-governmental organization violating the Helms Amendment which prohibits the use of any US foreign aid to perform or encourage abortion as a method of family planning. 

Recently, the State Department has admitted that during the Biden administration, partners and grantees using funds from U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) misused funds intended for HIV/AIDS prevention to perform abortions in Mozambique. Although the State Department suspended the funding and secured reimbursements, there is, as of yet, no real penalties or consequences for co-opting foreign aid programs to push the progressive abortion agenda with taxpayer

Unfortunately, this is just one of many instances of Helms Amendment violations by PEPFAR partners and grantees who misused over $1 million of congressionally appropriated funds to promote abortion instead of controlling the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“For years, American tax dollars have gone to foreign aid efforts that promote abortion, in direct violation of the Helms amendment,” said Sen. Lee. “This is largely because there have been no real penalties for this grievous abuse—until now. Our legislation permanently cuts aid off from any organizations which violate the abortion prohibition, and permanently fires any federal employee who knowingly facilitates it.”

“It is illegal and immoral for the U.S. government to fund abortion abroad. Federal funding for groups that promote abortion damages our credibility and hurts our ability to work with nations that share pro-life values,” said Rep. Davidson. “The Aid Accountability Act ensures real consequences for those who ignore the Helms Amendment by permanently banning non-profits caught using federal funds for abortion. Further, it would ban federal workers from civil service who knowingly violate the law. Only by restoring accountability to foreign aid can we hope to restore trust in the State Department.”

This bill is cosponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ashley Moody (R-FL) and endorsed by the Family Research Council and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

The Aid Accountability Act would:

• Ensure a grantee, sub-grantee, or contractor who violates abortion-related prohibitions become permanently ineligible for future US Funding
• Bar any civil servant who knowingly facilitates a violation of abortion-related prohibitions from civil service for life and make them financially liable for the violations
• Direct the Secretary of State to make the final determinations of violations and penalties
  • The Secretary’s determination may only be overturned by a federal court and is subject to the Congressional Review Act

Aid Accountability Act: One-pager | Bill Text