The Senate has voted to advance a $95 billion foreign aid package that could ultimately lead to a ban on the popular social media app TikTok in the United States.
The legislation, which passed the House of Representatives on Saturday, includes a provision that would require TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a ban in the U.S. The move comes amid concerns about TikTok’s ties to the Chinese government and the potential for user data to be shared with Beijing.
The Senate voted 80-19 on Tuesday to overcome a filibuster on the foreign aid package, which also includes billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill will now be subject to a final vote, which is expected to take place as early as Tuesday evening.
If the legislation passes, ByteDance will have 270 days to sell TikTok to a company that is not affiliated with a U.S. adversary, such as China, Russia, or Iran. President Biden could extend the deadline by 90 days if he sees “significant progress” toward a sale.
TikTok has denied any ties to the Chinese government and has said it would refuse any effort to obtain U.S. user data. However, the company has admitted to tracking the location of U.S. citizens, including Forbes journalists, to track leaks.
The TikTok provision is likely to face significant legal hurdles that could delay or block its implementation. TikTok has expressed plans to fight the legislation in court, and the Chinese government, which is required to approve a sale, has also expressed resistance.
The foreign aid package also includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific partners. The funding is intended to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia, Israel’s security, and Taiwan’s independence.
The Senate had previously passed a version of the foreign aid package in February, but it stalled in the House after former President Donald Trump argued that the U.S. should not provide foreign aid to its allies unless in the form of a loan. This latest version of the legislation does not include additional border controls.
