Former Counterterrorism director Joe Kent speaks against combining US-Israeli defense

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent has voiced strong opposition to an amendment within the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would expand military technology cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. Kent stated on X that the amendment, which he described as a merger of "our military’s most sensitive & secretive capabilities with Israel," is a "betrayal of U.S. sovereignty." He urged citizens to contact their senators to vote against the NDAA until Section 219, establishing a United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative, is removed. This initiative would involve the defense secretary appointing an individual to oversee joint research and weapons development. Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie is expected to reintroduce an amendment to remove this provision, following a previous unsuccessful attempt with California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna.