Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Representative Thomas Massie have joined forces to oppose a provision in the annual US defense policy bill, arguing that it could undermine American sovereignty.
The House of Representatives was set to vote Wednesday on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027. The NDAA authorizes defense programs, sets Pentagon policy and establishes military priorities, although separate appropriations legislation provides the funding.
At the center of the lawmakers’ objections is the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative, a provision included in the House version of the bill.
According to the House Armed Services Committee’s official description, the initiative would require the defense secretary to appoint an executive agent to coordinate cooperation between the United States and Israel. That cooperation would cover defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, integration and industrial collaboration.
Ocasio-Cortez warned that the proposal would establish an unacceptable level of military cooperation with Israel.
“The House will vote on the NDAA [Wednesday], which includes a provision to merge parts of our military with the [Israel Defense Forces],” Ocasio-Cortez said Tuesday night in a statement published on social media. “This amendment is an existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy. Every member of Congress must vote NO.”
Massie issued a similar warning and said he would vote against the wider defense bill because of the provision.
“While Americans are focused on other things, like how to make ends meet in the face of a rapidly rising cost of living, the House will vote [Wednesday] to merge our military technology and supply chains with Israel’s,” Massie said in a statement Tuesday night published on social media. “Our founders would be appalled at what Congress is doing now.”
Attempts by lawmakers to secure a separate floor vote on removing the provision were unsuccessful, leaving opponents to decide whether to vote against the entire NDAA. The House Rules Committee listed an amendment from Representative Rashida Tlaib seeking to strike the section, but it was not approved for a floor vote.
Foreign policy analyst Ben Freeman has argued that the initiative would create a “higher level of military-industrial integration [with Israel] than the U.S. has with any other country in the world” and could “greatly expand” Israeli influence in American politics.
“By expanding or starting new co-production facilities like it already has in Mississippi and Arkansas, the Israeli government could boast of providing jobs on U.S. soil, thereby securing allies among members of Congress who represent the districts where those jobs lie,” Freeman wrote.
Supporters dispute claims that the measure would surrender US control, saying it would accelerate joint technological development and strengthen the defense capabilities of both countries.