Cole, Díaz-Balart, Moore Commend President Trump’s CPC Designation for Nigeria, Action to Protect Persecuted Christians
October 31, 2025
Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), Vice Chair and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), and Legislative Branch Subcommittee Vice Chair Riley Moore (R-WV) – who has routinely advocated to end religious persecution – released a statement commending President Trump’s action to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to the alarming and ongoing persecution of Christians across the country:
“Nigeria is the most dangerous nation on Earth to follow Christ. For simply practicing their faith, Christians are actively being kidnapped, attacked, and slaughtered. With President Trump announcing he will be redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, the United States is making clear in one resolute voice: religious persecution will not be tolerated. The scourge of anti-Christian violence and oppression of other religious minorities by radical Islamic terrorists is an affront to religious freedom. This is a critical step in mobilizing leadership and attention to confront evil extremism.
"The House Appropriations Committee will continue standing with the Trump Administration by advancing policies that protect the freedom to live according to one’s faith without fear of violence and retribution. Defending religious liberty worldwide is both a moral duty and a vital American interest. We pray other world leaders will follow and join the global effort to stop extremist violence before more innocent lives are lost.
"This is also another significant reminder of why reopening the government and passing full-year appropriations bills is so critically important. Mr. President, we are prepared to act on instituting the America First agenda through our FY26 bill. As soon as the Democrat shutdown ends, we will continue moving full-year appropriations across the finish line to uphold your priorities. We know you’ll be ready at your desk with a pen in hand.”
Issue Background:
The House Appropriations Committee stands firmly with the President by advancing policies that promote accountability, condition assistance on cooperation, and expand funding to defend those persecuted for their faith. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations bill reported by the Committee increases support for international religious freedom programs and strengthens oversight to ensure the United States leads by example. After the Biden Administration failed to act four years in a row to address this crisis in Nigeria through a CPC designation, the bill requires the Department of State to justify any failure to implement recommendations from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and directs continued funding for programs supporting communities in Nigeria targeted by extremist violence. President Trump’s decisive action ahead of congressional enactment underscores the urgency of this human rights crisis and reinforces bipartisan support for defending religious freedom worldwide.
“Nigeria is the most dangerous nation on Earth to follow Christ. For simply practicing their faith, Christians are actively being kidnapped, attacked, and slaughtered. With President Trump announcing he will be redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, the United States is making clear in one resolute voice: religious persecution will not be tolerated. The scourge of anti-Christian violence and oppression of other religious minorities by radical Islamic terrorists is an affront to religious freedom. This is a critical step in mobilizing leadership and attention to confront evil extremism.
"The House Appropriations Committee will continue standing with the Trump Administration by advancing policies that protect the freedom to live according to one’s faith without fear of violence and retribution. Defending religious liberty worldwide is both a moral duty and a vital American interest. We pray other world leaders will follow and join the global effort to stop extremist violence before more innocent lives are lost.
"This is also another significant reminder of why reopening the government and passing full-year appropriations bills is so critically important. Mr. President, we are prepared to act on instituting the America First agenda through our FY26 bill. As soon as the Democrat shutdown ends, we will continue moving full-year appropriations across the finish line to uphold your priorities. We know you’ll be ready at your desk with a pen in hand.”
Issue Background:
The House Appropriations Committee stands firmly with the President by advancing policies that promote accountability, condition assistance on cooperation, and expand funding to defend those persecuted for their faith. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations bill reported by the Committee increases support for international religious freedom programs and strengthens oversight to ensure the United States leads by example. After the Biden Administration failed to act four years in a row to address this crisis in Nigeria through a CPC designation, the bill requires the Department of State to justify any failure to implement recommendations from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and directs continued funding for programs supporting communities in Nigeria targeted by extremist violence. President Trump’s decisive action ahead of congressional enactment underscores the urgency of this human rights crisis and reinforces bipartisan support for defending religious freedom worldwide.
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