Massie Revives Effort to Strip NDAA's Section 219 Combining US-Israeli Defense

Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) plans to reintroduce an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would remove Section 219, a provision expanding military technology cooperation between the United States and Israel. This initiative, previously Section 224, would establish a U.S.-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative, requiring a defense secretary-appointed official to coordinate joint research, development, and industrial cooperation in areas like missile defense, AI, and cybersecurity.

Massie argues this provision is an "unprecedented escalation of foreign involvement" and a "merger of our military supply chain with Israel’s," threatening U.S. sovereignty.

A previous bipartisan amendment co-sponsored by Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) was blocked by the House Rules Committee, preventing a floor vote. However, the House's subsequent rejection of the NDAA's debate rules offers Massie another opportunity to propose his amendment. Supporters, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, view the broader proposal as a shift "from aid to partnership." Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), initially a supporter, reversed his position due to constituent concerns and Israel's actions in the region.