Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing backlash after claiming the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act would “merge parts of our military with the Israel Defense Forces,” a characterization critics say misrepresents what the legislation actually does.
At the center of the dispute is Section 219 of the House-approved FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act, which expands U.S.-Israel defense cooperation through military technology, supply chains, research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and joint military exercises.
The House passed its version of the NDAA on Wednesday by a 219-206 vote, with Section 219 remaining in the legislation.
Before the vote, Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., posted on X that the bill “includes a provision to merge parts of our military with the IDF.”
“This amendment is an existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy,” she wrote. “Every member of Congress must vote NO.”
The post quickly sparked criticism from Republican lawmakers and members of the Trump administration, who argued the measure strengthens military cooperation between the United States and Israel but does not combine the two armed forces.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin flatly rejected Ocasio-Cortez’s claim, calling it “FALSE” on X.
“Instead of merging the part of your brain that hates Jews with the part of your brain concocting your daily lies, you should try merging the part of your brain responsible for reading bill text with the part of your brain responsible for critical thinking,” Zeldin wrote.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., also took aim at the progressive lawmaker.
“Good grief, you are either obtuse or intentionally lying. We are not merging our military with the IDF,” Lawler wrote.
Lawler said Section 219 expands defense cooperation already common between the United States and key allies, including intelligence sharing, joint military exercises and collaborative weapons development.
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While Republicans accused Ocasio-Cortez of exaggerating the bill, not every critic of Section 219 agreed with their defense of the provision.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced an amendment that would have removed Section 219 from the NDAA, but House leadership did not allow the proposal to receive a vote. After the procedural rule cleared the House, Massie announced he would oppose the full defense package.
“Unfortunately the Rule passed just now and no debate or vote was allowed on section 219, integration of US military technology and supply chains with Israel’s,” Massie wrote on X. “The NDAA will receive a recorded vote tomorrow with section 219 in it. I’ll vote no.”
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who partnered with Massie on the amendment, also criticized House leaders for preventing lawmakers from voting on the proposal.
“It is unconscionable to not even have a vote,” Khanna wrote on X. “We will be continuing on and will not be intimidated by the pro-Israel lobby.”
The Senate will now consider its own version of the NDAA before lawmakers negotiate a final bill that must pass both chambers and be signed into law.
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