Absence of Anti-CBDC Language Sparks Backlash Among Republican Hardliners
A major rift has emerged within the Republican Party after the US House advanced the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) without the promised ban on a central bank digital currency (CBDC).
The House passed the $900 billion annual defense package in a 312–112 vote, sending the must-pass bill to the Senate. But several GOP conservatives say party leadership failed to uphold a deal made earlier this year. Representative Keith Self wrote that conservatives were “explicitly promised” strong anti-CBDC protections, only to see the language removed before final consideration.
Self attempted to reintroduce the ban through an amendment this week, but it failed to reach the House floor. He said Republicans were left with a take it-or-leave it bill after being told the CBDC provision would be included. The dispute stems from a July agreement in which GOP leaders pledged to add a CBDC ban to the NDAA after hardliners refused to advance three crypto-related bills without that guarantee.
An early draft of the legislation circulated in August contained language that would have barred the Federal Reserve from testing, studying developing or issuing any digital currency. It also would have prohibited the central bank from offering financial services directly to individuals.
The omission drew criticism from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who accused House leadership of breaking its commitment and warned she would “never support giving the government the ability to turn off your money.”
A separate measure, the Anti CBDC Surveillance State Act, passed the House in July but has since stalled in the Senate. Self said he intends to renew the fight in the next must-pass bill, insisting that financial freedom remains non-negotiable.
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