Eighty-one House Republicans joined Democrats to defeat an amendment that would have stripped hundreds of millions of dollars from a State Department-backed democracy promotion program criticized by conservatives.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A sharp divide within the House Republican Conference was laid bare Wednesday night when a bipartisan majority voted to preserve federal funding for the National Endowment for Democracy, defeating an amendment aimed at eliminating money conservatives say has been used against them.
Lawmakers voted 127–291 against a proposal to remove $315 million allocated for the State Department’s democracy promotion initiatives, including the National Endowment for Democracy, from a broader government funding package. The amendment was offered by Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane, who argued on the House floor that the nonprofit’s activities had strayed from its stated mission and now undermine American interests and free expression. Crane has previously advanced legislation to defund the organization, as outlined in materials released when he introduced the measure.
The vote split Republicans, with 127 GOP members—largely from the party’s conservative wing—supporting the amendment, while 81 Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing it.
“Tonight, the Uniparty rejected my amendment to defund NED,” Crane wrote after the vote in a post on X. “Eighty-one ‘republicans’ voted with democrats to fund this rogue organization that fuels global censorship and domestic propaganda.”
Speaking earlier during debate, Crane said the nonprofit’s name obscured what he characterized as a troubling record. “Although its name suggests a force for good, its mission has drifted far from its Cold War origins. This is a classic tactic of the swamp, where bad policy and corruption hide behind a noble title,” he said. “We’ve learned that this organization has engaged in global censorship, domestic propaganda, and regime change politics.”
The White House has also taken aim at the organization. In its fiscal year 2026 discretionary budget request, the administration recommended eliminating funding for the National Endowment for Democracy, citing reports that grant money flowed to groups that criticized Republicans and attempted to blacklist conservative media outlets.
Support for Crane’s effort extended beyond the House. Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee urged lawmakers to back the amendment, writing on X that, “Congress shouldn’t be giving $315 million to the National Endowment for Democracy. We are not the world’s ATM. And yet far too many in Congress seem to think otherwise—especially when we’re asked to fund leftist vanity projects.”
Conservatives have pointed in particular to NED’s past funding of the Global Disinformation Index, a United Kingdom-based group that labeled numerous conservative outlets as high risk for misinformation. Reporting has shown the index shared those designations with major advertisers in an effort that critics say aimed to choke off revenue to targeted sites, as detailed here.
Democrats defended the funding during floor debate, arguing that the programs serve U.S. interests abroad. Florida Rep. Lois Frankel cited examples of democracy initiatives overseas, saying, “In Ukraine, democracy programs helped document Russian war crimes against women and children. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they fight corruption and strengthen the rule of law. In Pakistan, they promote religious tolerance and protect minority communities.” She added, “These investments are not charity. They’re prevention,” arguing they reduce the likelihood of conflicts that could later require American military involvement.
The vote came as the House approved a two-bill spending package to fund the Treasury and State departments, along with the Internal Revenue Service and Federal Trade Commission, for the remainder of the fiscal year. With Crane’s amendment defeated, the National Endowment for Democracy would continue to receive full funding if President Donald Trump signs the measure into law. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where consideration could begin as soon as next week.
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