Boland Amendment

The Boland Amendment was a series of congressional restrictions enacted between 1972 and 1984 to limit U.S. government support for the Contras, a rebel group in Nicaragua fighting the Sandinista government. It aimed to prevent the CIA and other agencies from funding or providing military aid to the Contras, reflecting Congress’s concern over potential escalation of conflict and misuse of funds. The amendment was part of broader efforts to maintain legislative oversight and restrict covert operations, and it often led to controversy when subsequent administrations found ways to bypass these restrictions clandestinely.