House-passed defense bill includes controversial US-Israel tech measure

The House of Representatives passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act, including a controversial Section 219 provision to encourage co-development and co-production between the U.S. and Israeli defense industrial bases. This measure aims to further integrate the two countries' defense industries, moving beyond the current model of security cooperation which has historically focused on defensive systems like the Iron Dome. The House version also establishes an executive agent within the Pentagon to identify and promote co-production opportunities. While Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie opposed the measure, proponents like House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers argued it “actually improves oversight and accountability of these programs.”