GOP Hardliners Fume as Defense Bill Advances Without CBDC Ban
A contested provision that would have explicitly prohibited a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC) was left out of a must-pass defense package moving to the Senate, drawing sharp criticism from GOP hardliners who say leadership promised the ban. The omission has prompted calls for amendments and warnings from conservative lawmakers that they may withhold support or press for separate measures to block any federal digital currency effort. The development matters because the defense bill is widely viewed as one of the few vehicles that can carry major policy riders into law this session. With the CBDC language sidelined, the crypto community and fiscal conservatives remain uncertain about the federal government’s next steps; senators now face pressure to either reintroduce restrictions or negotiate broader compromises before final passage.