On February 2, 2024, the Federal Court denied the Biden Administration's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by America First Legal (AFL) against the federal funding for Palestinian terrorism. The lawsuit was filed in December 2022 on behalf of Stuart and Robbi Force, parents of Taylor Force, a West Point graduate who was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in 2018.
The lawsuit aimed to enforce the Taylor Force Act, which was signed into law by President Trump in honor of Taylor Force. The act prohibits U.S. economic assistance that directly benefits the Palestinian Authority (PA) unless the Secretary of State certifies that the PA has ended its support for terrorism. Under the PA's "Pay to Slay" program, Palestinian terrorists and their families are paid bounties based on the number of casualties inflicted.
The Biden Administration had moved to dismiss the case, arguing that there was no connection between its funding and Palestinian terrorism. However, the Court found that there was a link "recognized by Congress" between funding that benefits the PA and the terrorism that the PA supports.
In addition, the Court found that it was plausible that the Biden Administration had circumvented the Taylor Force Act by pouring millions of dollars into the West Bank and Gaza through non-governmental organizations shortly after the PA took operational control over these organizations.
The Court's decision means that the government must now answer the Plaintiffs' complaint and address the evidence that the Biden Administration funneled approximately $1.5 billion of U.S. taxpayer dollars into the West Bank and Gaza, knowing that these funds were directly benefiting the PA and subsidizing Palestinian terrorism.
Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13), who was a part of the lawsuit, expressed his gratitude for the Court's decision and emphasized the importance of holding the Biden Administration accountable for not complying with the Taylor Force Act. He stated, "How off is the moral compass of this administration if they can't even follow the law to not fund terrorism with our taxpayer dollars?"
Stuart and Robbi Force, Taylor Force's parents, also issued a statement, saying that they were horrified to learn that taxpayer dollars were being used to offset payments to terrorists responsible for injuring and murdering innocent civilians. They urged the Biden Administration to honor the intent and purpose of the Taylor Force Act.
Sarri Singer, a survivor of a 2003 suicide bombing in Jerusalem, emphasized the need to uphold the Taylor Force Act and prevent the misuse of taxpayer dollars to subsidize violence. She stated, "We will continue to fight to enforce the Taylor Force Act and ensure that American funds are not knowingly channeled towards supporting terrorism."
Reed D. Rubinstein, Senior Counselor and Director of Oversight and Investigations for AFL, expressed his satisfaction with the Court's decision and affirmed that the Biden Administration subsidizes terrorism by pouring billions of taxpayer dollars into the West Bank and Gaza. He stated, "Our clients and AFL will continue fighting to enforce the Taylor Force Act and to hold the Biden Administration accountable for its illegal actions."
The Court's ruling marks a significant step in the AFL's lawsuit to block the Biden Administration from supporting Palestinian terrorism and enforce the Taylor Force Act. It underscores the importance of upholding laws that aim to prevent the funding of terrorism and hold accountable those who disregard them.