US House Republicans Move to Ban CBDCs Through Defense Spending Bill

House Republicans have embedded a prohibition on central bank digital currencies within the National Defense Authorization Act, a sweeping 1,300-page defense spending bill. The amendment bars the Federal Reserve from piloting or launching any CBDC initiative, with narrow exceptions for privacy-preserving dollar alternatives.

The maneuver reflects growing political resistance to government-issued digital currencies in the U.S., which now stands alone among major economies in halting retail CBDC development. GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer framed the measure as protection against "CCP-style surveillance," signaling escalating partisan tensions over financial privacy concerns.

Meanwhile, stablecoins continue gaining legislative traction as private sector alternatives. The development underscores a deepening divide in U.S. digital currency policy, with Congress favoring decentralized solutions over sovereign digital money.