On Wednesday, tensions within the Democratic Party became evident when dozens of House Democrats voted against an amendment proposed by Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky. The amendment sought to cut off $3.3 billion in annual military assistance to Israel, a motion that ultimately failed due to inadequate support. The vote of 103 in favor and 98 against unveiled divisions within the party regarding U.S. support for Israel amid ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Public opinion among Democrats has shifted against further aid to Israel. A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted in May revealed that 74% of Democrats oppose additional military and economic aid to Israel, while only 8% strongly support further assistance. Among potential Democratic voters, 48% believe Democrats have been overly supportive of Israel, 8% think they are under-supportive, and 34% find the current support appropriate. The poll involved 1,507 registered voters with a 2.8-point margin of error.
Another poll by Quinnipiac University in August 2025 showed that 75% of Democrats opposed extra military aid to Israel, indicating growing divides within the party over U.S. endorsement for Israel amidst the Gaza war.
“Massie’s amendment would prevent funds in the fiscal 2027 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill from being used for Israel and reduce the Foreign Military Financing account by $3.3 billion,” explained Massie, a vocal critic of U.S. support for Israel.
The U.S. annually provides Israel with approximately $3.8 billion in military aid as part of a 10-year agreement established in 2016. This package includes $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing grants and $500 million dedicated to missile defense cooperation, making Israel one of the largest recipients of U.S. military support. The U.S. has allocated billions in emergency military assistance, especially following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in roughly 1,200 deaths and led to mass displacement and a deadly military campaign by Israel in Gaza.
Massie has consistently opposed foreign aid and has become a prominent voice when critiquing U.S. military assistance abroad, including foreign interventions like the Iran conflict. On Wednesday, only 103 Democrats voted in favor of the amendment, while 98 opposed it. Additionally, 10 Democrats chose to vote “present,” and only one Republican, likely Massie himself, supported the amendment. It received 104 yeas and 313 nays and did not pass.
The amendment arrived two months after Massie lost his Republican primary amid disagreements with President Donald Trump on topics like U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Democratic Opposition and Support
Prior to the vote, several Democrats voiced their opposition to the amendment. Representative Sam Liccardo criticized the amendment, calling it ‘flawed and overbroad.’ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed concerns in a letter obtained by The New York Times, claiming Republican leaders are using the amendment for partisan purposes rather than sincere concern.
However, some Democrats supported the amendment. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that while the amendment is unsound, she voted yes to send a message that the U.S. must be a force for security and change. Representative Seth Moulton argued that Israel’s current actions oppose America’s national security interests and suggested that unconditional assistance fosters an unacceptable situation.
“Withholding these funds would not leave Israel defenseless. Israel has a nearly $50 billion defense budget, and Congress also provided an additional $9 billion in 2024,” Moulton remarked.
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, who voted for the amendment, emphasized that the U.S. shouldn’t offer any country a “blank check” if they don’t adhere to American laws, interests, and values, stating that the Netanyahu government has not met these criteria.
Changing American Views on Israel
The United States has long been a staunch ally of Israel, providing substantial military assistance and diplomatic support. Yet public views in America have shifted since October 7, 2023. Recent polling illustrates a growing divide over U.S. support for Israel, a shift from its historical consensus.
An AP-NORC poll in June found that 58% of Democrats felt the U.S. is excessively supportive of Israel, up from 45% in January 2024. Conversely, 60% of Republicans believe the current support level is appropriate.
Moreover, 31% of U.S. adults think Israel’s military actions in Gaza equate to genocide, while 49% are unsure and 20% disagree. The poll also indicates growing Democratic support for Palestinians, with 62% feeling not enough support exists, an increase from 49%.
A subset focusing on Jewish Americans suggests dwindling favorability for Netanyahu, with 32% supportive as opposed to a 59% unfavorable rating. When questioned about genocide allegations against Palestinians, 30% agreed, 49% disagreed, and 21% lacked sufficient knowledge to decide.
The Pew Research survey conducted from May 4-17 found diminishing favorable views of the Israeli government among Americans. The survey highlighted a drop from 65% favorable views from Republicans in 2022 to 51%, while only 16% of Democrats felt favorable.
A May Reuters/Ipsos poll also corroborated Israel’s waning favorability among Democrats from 59% in 2018 to 22%.
Wednesday’s vote reveals some Democrats, particularly progressives, are increasingly ready to defy traditional support for Israel within the party.