Democrats divided over House vote on aid to Israel amid rising US-Middle East tensions
‘Special Report’ anchor Brett Baer discusses the growing political divide within the Democratic Party regarding a House bill to cut aid to Israel. The amendment by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has sparked significant debate, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warning that it could undermine U.S. national security by empowering Hamas and Hezbollah.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., came under fire after claiming that the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would “merge parts of our military with the Israel Defense Forces”, accusing her of distorting the law.
The fight centers on Section 219 of the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act, a provision that calls for deeper US-Israel defense integration through expanded cooperation on military technology, supply chains, research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and joint exercises.
On Wednesday, the House passed its version of the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act by a 219-206 vote, leaving Section 219 intact.
But before the vote, Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter that the NDAA “includes a provision to merge parts of our military with the IDF.”
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks during the ‘New York is not for Sale’ rally at Forest Hills Stadium on October 26, 2025. (Stephanie Spindell/ViewPress via Getty Images)
“This amendment is an existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy,” he wrote. “Every member of Congress should vote ‘no’.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s post was immediately criticized by Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials, who argued that the measure strengthens defense cooperation with Israel but does not merge the two militaries.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin called the claim “false”, accusing the Congressman of mishandling the bill.
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Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks to reporters as he arrives for a House Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Zeldin wrote on
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., similarly criticized Ocasio-Cortez, asking her to “stop promoting Jew hatred.”
Lawler wrote, “Good grief, you are either stupid or deliberately lying. We are not merging our military with the IDF.”
Lawler argued that this provision merely expands the type of defense cooperation that the United States already has with close allies, including intelligence sharing, joint military exercises, and collaborative weapons development.
While Republicans disputed Ocasio-Cortez’s details, some lawmakers opposing the provision also expressed concerns about its scope but framed it differently.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced an amendment to remove Section 219 from the legislation, but House leadership did not allow it to receive a vote. After the procedural rules were passed, Massey announced that he would oppose the entire defense bill.
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Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks to members of the media outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Unfortunately the rule just passed and allowed no debate or vote on Section 219, the integration of US military technology and supply chains with Israel,” Macy wrote on X. The NDAA will receive a recorded vote tomorrow along with Section 219. I will vote no.
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Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who partnered with Massie on the amendment, also criticized House leadership for blocking the vote, writing that Congress was prevented from considering a resolution to block “the integration of our military with Israel.”
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“Not voting is also illogical,” Khanna wrote on Twitter. “We will keep moving forward and will not be intimidated by the pro-Israel lobby.”
Fox News Digital contacted Ocasio-Cortez’s office for comment.
