The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the 2027 fiscal year by a narrow vote of 216 to 212. This significant bill outlines over $1 trillion in military spending. It positions the United States as the leading global defense spender.
This development comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed the U.S. war with Iran has cost $37.5 billion since the end of February.
Link to Israel Under Scrutiny
The bill highlights U.S. relations with Israel, provoking discussion on the humanitarian impact of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Israel denies allegations of committing genocide during its invasion of Gaza in response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Several Democrats, including Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, urged caution. They requested more scrutiny of U.S.-Israeli cooperation before passing the NDAA. New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned of possible military merging with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which could threaten U.S. sovereignty.
Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie also opposed increased military integration with Israel. Massie pushed to halt over $3 billion in U.S. aid for the Israeli military but was unsuccessful in swaying the House vote.
Lobbying and Defense Ties
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) supports the provisions, stating they help the U.S. and Israel counter emerging threats by advancing military technology such as air defenses and counter-drone systems.
The NDAA is seen as a means to give U.S. troops an advantage on the battlefield. Israel has reported record-high weapons sales for 2025, indicating increased defense spending among nations.
What Section 219 Entails
Section 219 of the bill emphasizes collaboration with Israel. A Pentagon coordinator will be assigned to enhance technology development with Israel, looking into how systems can integrate into the U.S. military. They will identify useful technologies developed by or alongside Israel.
The U.S. will focus on several key areas with Israel:
- Drone threats, both aerial and seaborne systems
- Anti-tunneling and underground threats
- Air defense
- Artificial intelligence and quantum computing
- Advanced sensors and directed energy
- Electronic warfare and cybersecurity
- Medical programs and biotechnology
- Data and network integration
- Defense industry advancements
- Other emerging technologies
Section 219 also mandates joint training exercises with Israel and collaborative use of technology. Defense Secretary Hegseth will update Congress on progress within 180 days and continue yearly reports until 2030. Public access to these reports depends on classification.
What Section 219 Does Not Do
This section does not create a joint military force or require U.S. troops to serve under Israeli command, nor does it place Israeli soldiers under U.S. command. It does not obligate either nation to engage in warfare for the other.
Future Steps
The NDAA now proceeds to the Senate before reaching President Donald Trump for approval.