House Democrats Back Cutting $3.3 Billion in Israel Aid as NDAA Fight Deepens
Updated
Updated · PBS NewsHour · Jul 16
House Democrats Back Cutting $3.3 Billion in Israel Aid as NDAA Fight Deepens
3 articles · Updated · PBS NewsHour · Jul 16
Summary
103 House Democrats voted to strip about $3.3 billion in military funding for Israel from a House bill, marking the first time in modern memory a majority of one major party backed ending that aid.
The amendment failed because Republicans largely kept the funding intact, but the vote exposed a sharp Democratic split as Gaza and the U.S.-Israel operation against Iran drive growing pressure from the party base.
Democratic leaders split unusually on the measure: Hakeem Jeffries and Pete Aguilar opposed cutting aid, while the chamber's No. 2 Democrat backed it.
Section 219 of the House NDAA is opening a second front in the debate by creating a U.S.-Israel defense technology framework covering data integration and sensitive fields such as AI, quantum and biotech.
That broader defense bill remains stalled in both chambers, with Senate Democrats objecting to Iran-related provisions and House leaders still trying to pass the must-pass measure next week.