House Lawmakers Reject Israel Funding Ban as Spending Bill Fights Intensify

Amid debates over various appropriation bills for next year’s budget, the House of Representatives failed to pass an amendment to block funding for Israel in a 314-104 vote, but not without it causing an uproar on both ends of the aisle.

The National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations bill funds U.S. diplomacy, foreign assistance, humanitarian aid and other international programs. But an amendment offered by Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) to block U.S. funding for Israel divided lawmakers, with some backing an end to U.S. support for Israel and others warning the measure was overly broad and could jeopardize critical foreign assistance programs.

What Was the Amendment Controversy?

Although many Democrats have been outspoken against sending aid to Israel while its military operations in Gaza continue, House Minority Leader and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) made it clear he was always going to vote against the bill.

“The so-called Massie amendment would restrict our country’s ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel,” Rep. Jeffries said earlier this week.

But Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) was among the group of over 100 Democrats to join Rep. Massie in pushing for the amendment ahead of its vote on the House floor.

“For decades, our nation gave Israel billions to facilitate peace and a two-state solution,” Rep. Castro said. “Instead, Israel has chosen more war and more occupation.”

Rep. Castro highlighted the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas against Israel, which led to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza and what Israeli officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have described as self-defense efforts.

“Self-defense does not include indiscriminately bombing homes, hospitals, churches, schools or refugee camps,” Rep. Castro said. “Israel does not need, and quite honestly, does not deserve more American money for weapons.”

Rep. Castro said passing the amendment would send a message from Israel’s longtime ally that continued military actions would have consequences.

“If there are no consequences, why in the world would Benjamin Netanyahu change what he is doing?" he questioned. “Words are not enough; condemnations are not enough. If we hope to change Israel’s behavior, we must use our leverage.”

Debate Shifts to United Nations’ Cuts

But while House Democrats debated internally on how to vote on the measure, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced his own amendment to cut funding from the United Nations as a whole. He argued that U.S. taxpayer dollars should not support an organization he believes has repeatedly acted against American interests.

“It has repeatedly failed to earn the confidence of the American people,” Rep. Roy said. “It has stood up in solidarity with the worst and most evil countries in the world against our interest…built on the back of our funding.”

Rep. Roy said this funding should instead go toward policy priorities Congress has yet to achieve, including military modernization and increased border security. Sending funds to the United Nations only increases America’s debt, he said, arguing that the U.S. is “spending more on interest than our own national defense.”

“It strikes me as an inappropriate use of taxpayer money to continue to send that money to an entity that has been working in such negative ways with respect to our interests as a nation,” Rep. Roy said.