Congress Might Sneakily Use Lame Duck to Deeply Intertwine the U.S. and Israeli Militaries

On March 4, 2026, giant screens along a Tel Aviv highway displayed both the United States and Israeli national flags. After President Biden's persistent support for Israel's actions in Gaza contributed to President Trump's reelection in 2024, it led to Democrats regaining control of both chambers of Congress. This outcome offers both parties a chance to show they've learned the lesson voters sent their way: Americans don't want to be involved in Israel's aggression and atrocities.

Currently, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are working together to finalize the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which governs Pentagon policy. A troubling provision in the current versions of the bill would deepen the intertwining of Israeli and U.S. military and intelligence operations. This could pave the way for billions of taxpayer dollars to flow to Israeli weapons manufacturers without proper congressional oversight.

Several members of Congress from both parties oppose this provision. On Tuesday, Senator Chris Van Hollen and nine other Democrats, along with independent Bernie Sanders, requested its removal. In the House, Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie have vowed to strip the NDAA of this measure as well. Their actions reflect what the majority of Americans desire—reduced or eliminated taxpayer funding for Israel, currently at $3.3 billion per year.

However, even if Congress stopped funding Israel, $3.3 billion in actual dollars could still be sent to Israeli companies through the Pentagon's procurement process, thanks to this integration measure. This could also enable Israeli weapons and surveillance technology tested on Palestinians to be used in the U.S. to support the Trump administration's deportation program. Israeli surveillance technology from Elbit Systems, for example, could be deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border.

This integration could significantly expand the scope of weapons over which the Israeli government could veto decisions, as reported by The Washington Post. The integration measure in the NDAA could lead to a massive expansion of weapons controlled by Israel, even if American taxpayers don't directly fund them. This would heighten concerns about Israeli intelligence cooperation, which has been unreliable in the past and could allow for Israeli spying to reach unprecedented levels.

Experts argue that this integration is morally wrong and poses significant national security risks. Some even warn that deepening military and intelligence integration with Israel could have severe consequences, such as financial harm to the U.S. and a quagmire in the Middle East.