This act prohibits the use of federal funds to support any U.S. occupation, control, or administration of Venezuela, with specific exceptions for diplomatic property acquisition and existing humanitarian aid.
Raja Krishnamoorthi
Representative
IL-8
The No Occupation of Venezuela Act of 2026 (NOVA Act) strictly prohibits the use of U.S. Federal funds to support any form of U.S. military occupation, control, or administration over Venezuela. This ban includes funding for military deployments intended to assert sovereignty or control over Venezuelan territory or resources. The Act carves out narrow exceptions allowing for the acquisition or use of property for U.S. diplomatic or consular establishments, provided the Venezuelan government approves. Importantly, this legislation does not affect existing laws governing the provision of emergency humanitarian aid.
NOVA Act of 2026 Bans Federal Funds for U.S. Military Occupation of Venezuela, Exempts Humanitarian Aid
This bill, officially titled the No Occupation of Venezuela Act of 2026 (or the NOVA Act), is straightforward: it puts a hard stop on using federal funds to support any U.S. occupation, military deployment, or assertion of control over Venezuela. Think of it as a financial firewall designed to prevent the U.S. from getting involved in a costly, open-ended administration or military takeover of the country.
The 'Hands Off' Rule for Tax Dollars
Section 2 is the core of this legislation. It explicitly bans spending U.S. tax dollars to "directly or indirectly support any U.S. assertion of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty over the territory or resources of Venezuela." This restriction extends to funding the deployment of the U.S. Armed Forces there. For the average taxpayer, this is a mechanism to limit potential foreign military entanglements and ensure that your money isn't being used to prop up a long-term administrative or military presence in Caracas.
Diplomatic Business as Usual
The bill is strict, but it makes sensible exceptions for standard diplomatic work. You can’t run an embassy without property, right? The NOVA Act allows the President to use federal funds to buy or acquire property for U.S. diplomatic or consular establishments (like an embassy or consulate), but only if the Government of Venezuela approves the transaction. This means we can still conduct diplomacy and maintain a presence without violating the core ban on occupation. Furthermore, any property the U.S. already owned in Venezuela before January 1, 2026, is exempt from this funding ban, ensuring existing diplomatic posts can continue operating without issue.
Humanitarian Aid Stays Safe
One crucial provision clarifies that this prohibition on occupation funding doesn't touch existing laws regarding emergency humanitarian aid. If you’re worried about the U.S. pulling back aid for food, medicine, or disaster relief, don't be. The NOVA Act explicitly states that aid money is safe and unaffected. This is important because it separates necessary relief efforts from military or administrative intervention, ensuring that the U.S. can still help people on the ground without running afoul of the non-occupation rule.