Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the lone Republican to vote Wednesday to cut off roughly $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel.
Massie, the outspoken conservative who recently lost his primary election due to President Donald Trump endorsing his opponent, introduced an amendment earlier this week to H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, that would have dramatically altered the United States’ annual military assistance to a country that has traditionally been an ally but has faced stark criticism due to wars in Gaza and Iran.
The final vote was 314-104, with Massie joining 103 Democrats on the measure. Another 98 Democrats voted alongside Republicans while 10 Democrats voted “present.”
“Though my amendment to strike $3.3 billion in aid to Israel from the State Dept Approps bill did not pass, 104 House Members voted in favor of it,” Massie wrote Wednesday evening on X. “The tide is changing. Americans want their tax dollars to be spent improving things here at home, not waging war and genocide.”
In a statement made on the House floor regarding the amendment, Massie said that the U.S. in this bill spends more money in Israel’s favor than for homeless veterans.
This vote coincides with efforts within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), still being deliberated in both chambers of Congress, to merge U.S. and Israeli military intelligence in the realm of joint research, testing, weapons development, technology integration and industrial cooperation. That provision was also co-sponsored by Massie, alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
If the final version of the NDAA includes Section 219, formerly known as Section 224, that melding of both countries’ military assets would cover areas including missile defense, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, quantum technology, electronic warfare and weapons co-production.
Lawmakers, Organizations React to Vote
The amendment and broader discussion about the United States’ role as it pertains to Israel led lawmakers into various crevices of Washington—with the 435 members across the board displaying a quite varied view of the Middle East nation.
Rep. Tom Kean praised the vote afterward on X, saying, “America stands with Israel.” He applauded the 98 Democrats who joined the GOP.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) echoed Kean’s sentiment, writing on X: “America will continue to stand with our strongest democratic ally in the Middle East.”
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), a staunch Israeli ally who is in the middle of a tough reelection bid, voted against the amendment.
AIPAC, the United States’ pro-Israel lobby, called it a “dangerous amendment” and scrutinized both Massie—who they claim is attempting to “undermine” the U.S.-Israel relationship due to his primary election loss—and the 103 Democrats who voted for it.
“We remain committed to strengthening support in Congress among Democrats and Republicans for America’s partnership with Israel,” AIPAC wrote on X. “AIPAC members will be actively engaged throughout this election cycle, and future election cycles, to support members of Congress of both parties who support a strong U.S.-Israel alliance and oppose those who don’t.”
While Democrats like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) sided with Israel, former House Speaker and current Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) voted for the amendment to curb U.S. aid.
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), who won his last election by a slim margin in a diverse district, called out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a post-vote statement. The campaign money doesn’t matter to him, he added.
“I just voted to block sending $3.3 billion of our taxpayer dollars to Netanyahu’s government,” Ryan wrote on X. “It’s wrong on every level. I expect groups like AIPAC will not support me in my future elections and frankly, I don’t want their support.
“Hardline stances that refuse to stand up to a corrupt and increasingly dangerous Netanyahu regime have no place in our politics.”
Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, called the vote “a seismic shift in U.S. politics.” It could have major implications come November, she said.
“What was once unquestioning bipartisan consensus to fund Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians is now breaking apart,” Miller said in a statement. “While it is shameful that the House failed to pass this amendment, it is also now clear that it is impossible for Congress to ignore our voices.
“The overwhelming majority of Democratic voters are demanding that we halt U.S. military funding to Israel, and every Democrat who ignored these calls should fear for their seat.”
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