The Cradle
JUN 30, 2026
Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna have also been pushing for a vote to cut the billions in yearly military aid to Israel
The US Congress blocked lawmakers Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie’s efforts to secure a vote to prevent plans to integrate Washington and Tel Aviv’s military industries on 29 June.
The refusal came via the US House of Representatives’ Rules process for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
This act determines which proposed amendments to the defense policy bill will be debated and voted on.
Democrat Khanna and Republican Massie had proposed an amendment that would have removed the integration initiative – called the US–Israel Defense Technology Initiative – from the defense policy bill.
The list of amendments was released on Monday and did not include the Khanna–Massie amendment.
The initiative in question would not only fuse the US and Israeli military-industrial complexes but also military technology and data, as well as AI and autonomous weapon systems.
Such technology is used by Israel in its ongoing genocide of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, with US backing.
US-made weapons have also killed thousands in Lebanon within just a few months.
The integration bill has sparked significant backlash, at a time when polling continues to indicate growing distrust toward Israel among the US public.
“The dangers of allowing any other nation to access our sensitive military technologies are obvious, including the fact that back doors and spyware can be installed that will most certainly be used by the Israelis to influence US policy,” said former director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent.
Kent resigned in March over the illegal US-Israeli war on Iran.
He also commented that he believed Tel Aviv pushed Washington into the war, and refuted the idea that Tehran was seeking to weaponize its nuclear program.
Others besides Kent have also repeatedly expressed concern over Israeli espionage against the US government.
This includes former CIA agent and whistleblower John Kirkiakou – who has recently frequented multiple podcasts and has made viral claims about the Mossad planting listening devices in US intelligence headquarters.
Congress has also struck down an attempt by Khanna and Massie to remove the $3.3 billion in yearly US military aid to Israel.
The push also began earlier this month and has caused a split among Democrats.
Some have defended the push, while others have lambasted it. “Soon, the House will vote on an amendment to block taxpayer funding to Israel’s military. I will vote yes,” US Democratic Representative Greg Casar said on 29 June.
“The Israeli government committed war crimes in Gaza and helped drag America into war with Iran. Americans should not be financing more weapons for Netanyahu,” he added.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) also said she would vote in favor of cutting the aid. Others have opposed it.
“There’s just too many factors to say … We’re taking away $3.3 billion,” said Representative Gregory Meeks, top Democrat of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I know there is still danger [in Israel]. I don’t want Israel to be without what they need,” he added.
Plans for the US–Israel military integration were revealed last month in a clause of the 2027 NDAA.
Section 224 of the NDAA proposes bilateral defense research and development, co-production of weapons, joint ventures, licensing agreements, and other US–Israel military-industrial complex cooperation.
It calls for expanded US–Israeli coordination and integration in the fields of military technology, AI, quantum tech, autonomous systems, directed energy, and biotechnology.
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