Days after tens of thousands of migrants surged across the border from Morocco into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, a new political firestorm is burning in Washington. Conservative US lawmakers, including former Representative Thomas Massie, are pointing to a congressional report that ties $40 million in security aid for Morocco to language acknowledging Rabat's territorial claims over the enclave. Their allegations have fueled online speculation about whether the mass entry was orchestrated, even as evidence remains largely circumstantial. Main Developments Massie, a Kentucky Republican who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, highlighted the report's wording on social media on August 3. He wrote: “GOP Congress voted to give Morocco $40 mil and lent credibility to their claim to Ceuta.” The report, attached to HR 8595, a sweeping national security bill passed by the House but not the Senate, recommends continuing $20 million under National Security Investment Programs and $20 million under Foreign Military Financing Program for Morocco. The contested section states that “the Spanish-administered cities of Ceuta and Melilla are located in Moroccan territory and remain the subject of Morocco’s longstanding claim.” It follows with support for “diplomatic engagement between Morocco and Spain on the future status of Ceuta and Melilla.” Massie emphasized that this language appears in the committee report, not in the bill itself, suggesting it mirrors Morocco's own rhetoric. Read also: 3 Key Factors Behind SpaceX's 13% Post-IPO Stock Plunge Former Representative Marjorie Greene, who resigned from Congress in November, went further, alleging a direct link between the legislation and the border incident. “Republicans paid $40 MILLION of your tax dollars to Morocco to invade Spain,” she stated. Both Massie and Greene have become prominent voices on the political right, known for their increasingly critical views of President Trump and his overseas interventionist policies. Their claims coincide with Spanish media reports that Moroccan intelligence agents were spotted among the crowds and accounts from some migrants who said they were encouraged to cross by Moroccan authorities. Yet, no official evidence has been presented to confirm these allegations, and the speculation remains largely circumstantial. Background Morocco has drawn closer to the US and Israel in recent years. During Trump's first term, Morocco joined the Abraham Accords in 2020, and the US recognized Morocco's contested territorial claim to Western Sahara. This alignment has deepened under Trump's second term, even as Spain has emerged as a leading critic of the US-Israel war on Iran and Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. Massie and Greene have both carved out niches among conservatives disillusioned with Trump's second term, alongside figures like Joe Kent and Tucker Carlson. Massie, a prominent anti-interventionist, was defeated in a primary by a Trump-backed opponent, while Greene resigned her seat after frustration with the MAGA movement on issues like Israel support and the Epstein files. The Ceuta incident itself—a mass entry of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave—has been seized upon by critics of Spain's left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who frame it as an “invasion” facilitated by lax border policies. Others, however, speculate it may have been an effort to embarrass Sanchez's government, which has been a frequent thorn in the US side on foreign policy. Why It Matters The controversy highlights a growing rift between Washington and Madrid over Middle East policy, with Ceuta becoming a flashpoint. If Massie and Greene's claims gain traction, they could undermine US-Morocco relations, a key strategic partnership in North Africa, and complicate the Biden or Trump administration's diplomatic posture toward Spain. The language in the appropriations report, while non-binding, carries symbolic weight, as it appears to endorse Morocco's territorial claims over two Spanish-administered cities. This could embolden Rabat's position in future negotiations and strain NATO allies' unity, as Spain is a member of the alliance. For US taxpayers, the $40 million in security assistance is a tangible stake, and the debate over whether it should come with conditions reflects broader questions about how Congress allocates foreign aid. The incident also underscores how domestic political figures can amplify geopolitical tensions, even without concrete evidence. What's Next HR 8595 has yet to pass the Senate, so the report's language remains a recommendation, not law. The Senate's next steps on the bill will be closely watched, particularly whether the contested section is amended or removed. Massie and Greene's posts have already sparked online debate, and further scrutiny of the report's origins may follow. Meanwhile, the situation in Ceuta itself remains fluid, with Spanish and Moroccan authorities facing questions about border se