House Passes $832B Defense Bill with Robust Funding for Israeli Missile Defense; Greene’s Anti-Israel Amendment Fails

By: Fern Sidman

In a significant legislative move that spotlighted bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel defense partnership, the House of Representatives passed its $832 billion defense appropriations bill on Friday, securing hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for Israeli missile defense systems. As reported by The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), the bill passed largely along party lines, with 216 Republicans and five Democrats voting in favor, while 206 Democrats and three Republicans opposed the measure.

The annual Department of Defense spending package includes a critical allocation of $500 million for “Israeli cooperative programs,” designed to bolster Israel’s multi-tiered missile defense architecture. According to the information provided in the JNS report, the funding supports vital systems such as the Iron Dome, which intercepts short-range rocket and mortar attacks, and the Arrow system, designed for ballistic missile threats.

Pro-Israel advocacy groups hailed the House’s approval of the defense package. As JNS reported, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) emphasized that the U.S.-Israel missile defense partnership “saves countless lives and enhances U.S. capabilities.” The organization described the systems—Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome—as “essential” to Israel’s ability to defend itself, particularly against threats emanating from Iran.

“Israel is on the front lines of the fight against common enemies,” AIPAC stated, according to the JNS report. “This vote sends a strong message that America stands with our ally and rejects extremist efforts to undermine our strategic interests in the region.”

Among the notable provisions in the bill was a bipartisan amendment championed by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), designed to enhance joint U.S.-Israel efforts in countering hostile drone technologies. Gottheimer emphasized the urgency of addressing the growing drone threat, citing Iran’s recent attacks.

“Last month, Israel faced more than 1,000 killer drones launched by Iran—the same drones that have been launched at American troops in the region,” Gottheimer said. “Iran is the parent company of terror, and Iranian-backed terror groups continue to target innocent American and Israeli civilians, which is why we must take concrete action to counter their deadly drone capabilities.”

Gottheimer’s amendment passed as part of the broader bill, further cementing congressional support for collaborative defense technology development between the United States and Israel.

One of the most contentious moments in the House proceedings, as reported by JNS, came when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) introduced a series of amendments seeking to eliminate funding for foreign militaries, including Israel, Jordan, and Ukraine. Greene’s proposals, aimed at cutting $1.6 billion in foreign aid from the defense budget, were resoundingly defeated.

As the JNS report detailed, Greene voiced her frustration following the failed amendments, stating, “Tonight all of my amendments to cut $1.6 billion of foreign aid out of our defense budget failed, because both Republicans and Democrats refuse to stop sending your hard-earned tax dollars to foreign countries.”

“We are $37 trillion in debt and Congress will never ever fix it, because they will never ever stop the insane out-of-control spending that drives inflation up and makes your life unaffordable,” Greene added.

Despite her vocal opposition, only five other lawmakers joined Greene in supporting the amendment to remove Israeli funding: Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Al Green (D-Texas), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

The defeat of Greene’s amendment was welcomed by pro-Israel organizations and advocacy leaders. Boris Zilberman, senior director of the Christians United for Israel Action Fund, issued a sharp rebuke of Greene’s efforts, telling JNS that her actions reflected “attention-seeking behavior from a fringe bigot, whose hatred for Israel and the Jewish people trumps all else.”

“She is certainly not representing her Christian Zionist constituents, President Trump or the American people by these desperate acts,” Zilberman said. “The bottom line is that Rep. Greene’s efforts, like so much of her congressional career, have failed fantastically.”

AIPAC called the attempt to strip funding “reckless” and praised the overwhelming 422-6 vote rejecting the amendment. The organization stated, “This sends a clear bipartisan message about America’s support for our democratic ally.”

The defense appropriations bill for the 2026 fiscal year maintains the Pentagon’s budget at a level consistent with the prior year. The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to release its version of the legislation, and the JNS report noted that once the Senate finalizes its draft, the two chambers will need to reconcile differences before the bill is sent to the president for signature.

While the Senate’s position on the Israeli missile defense funding is not yet formalized, past bipartisan support suggests that the allocation is likely to remain intact through the reconciliation process.

Friday’s House vote represents a reaffirmation of the longstanding security alliance between the United States and Israel. According to the JNS report, the passage of the $832 billion defense bill — with robust funding for Israel’s missile defense systems — not only highlights the strategic importance of this partnership but also reflects a bipartisan consensus on countering shared threats, particularly from Iran and its proxy networks.

The defeat of attempts to curtail military aid further underscores Congress’s steadfast commitment to supporting Israel’s security needs. As negotiations move to the Senate, the defense bill stands as a testament to the enduring strength of U.S.-Israel military cooperation.