In a move aimed at increasing oversight and accountability, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rick Scott (R-Florida), introduced the AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act of 2025 on Friday.
The proposed legislation seeks to limit U.S. taxpayer funding for the African Union-led peace operations, particularly the newly proposed African Union Somalia Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which replaced the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on January 1 this year. According to the senators, the bill is designed to ensure that both the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) implement reforms, maintain transparency, and deliver results before receiving continued U.S. financial support.
Senator Risch stated that the bill reflects the need to protect U.S. interests and ensure that American funds are used effectively and with proper accountability in complex international operations. The lawmakers expressed concern over what they perceive as insufficient oversight mechanisms in past missions and signaled the need for improved standards and measurable outcomes going forward.