The Leave No Americans Behind Act of 2026 eliminates the State Department's repatriation loan program, which has required American citizens evacuated from dangerous situations abroad to repay the government for evacuation costs. Under current law, the State Department can loan money to evacuated Americans and charge them back for expenses like emergency flights, with repayment capped at what a commercial airfare would have cost. This bill removes those repayment requirements entirely, making emergency evacuations free for U.S. citizens who need to leave countries due to crises or disasters. The legislation affects Americans who are overseas during emergencies and rely on government assistance to return home, potentially removing a financial burden that some evacuees have struggled to repay. The bill was introduced in March 2026 and referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, but contains no specific funding amounts or implementation timeline.
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