House Passes $901B Defense Bill with Major Boosts for U.S.–Israel Security Cooperation

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly advanced the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), approving nearly $900 billion in defense spending and a broad slate of U.S.-Israel security initiatives. The bipartisan vote was 312-112, sending the legislation to the Senate, where it is expected to pass.

The bill sets the Pentagon’s policy roadmap for the coming year and includes a 3.8% pay raise for U.S. service members. It also strengthens congressional oversight of Pentagon activities, adding new requirements for the Department of Defense to release videos of counter-drug maritime strikes in the Caribbean.

Major Expansion of U.S.-Israel Defense Cooperation

This year’s NDAA contains some of the most sweeping pro-Israel provisions in recent memory. It authorizes $500 million in fiscal year 2026 for U.S.-Israel missile-defense cooperation, covering systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow family of interceptors. Lawmakers also adjusted the distribution of these funds to prioritize replenishment of Arrow 3, reflecting Israel’s increased need for upper-tier missile defense following extensive interceptor usage and the ongoing long-range threats from Iran and the Houthis.

The bill further provides $80 million for the U.S.-Israel Anti-Tunneling program, aimed at identifying and neutralizing underground threats. Another $35 million is dedicated to collaboration on emerging technologies, including directed energy capabilities, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies.

Congress also expanded authorization for U.S.-Israel cooperation on counter-drone systems to $70 million — a $15 million increase from last year — and broadened the program to include unmanned platforms across air, land, sea, and space domains. In addition, the NDAA formally establishes the U.S.-Israel Defense Industrial Base Working Group, instructing it to explore opportunities for deeper industrial integration and even potential Israeli entry into the National Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB).

The legislation also warns the Pentagon to avoid participation in any international defense exhibition that restricts Israel’s involvement. It directs the Departments of Defense and State, along with the intelligence community, to continually assess how international arms embargoes may impact Israel’s security.

AIPAC welcomed the legislation, calling it a critical step in strengthening the joint ability of both nations to counter missile, drone, and emerging threats. The group praised bipartisan champions in both chambers and urged the Senate to maintain the bill’s strong pro-Israel provisions.

Context Behind Funding Shifts

Defense analysts say the shift toward Arrow 3 funding reflects Israel’s changing threat environment. Ari Cicurel of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America noted that with Hamas and Hezbollah significantly degraded, Israel now faces more long-range threats from Iran and its affiliates, making upper-tier missile defense a higher priority.

Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery added that Iron Dome and Iron Beam received significant funding in the 2024 Israel supplemental aid package. Because of this earlier support, reallocating funds within the missile-defense portfolio may simply represent an effort to balance Israel’s overall defense needs.

House Revolt Over Foreign Aid Concerns

Although the NDAA ultimately passed by a wide margin, it briefly stalled when a group of conservative House Republicans raised concerns that U.S. foreign aid could inadvertently reach the Taliban. The impasse ended after Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally assured them that any nongovernmental organizations directing funds to the Taliban would be cut off.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said the guarantees satisfied her concerns. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) added, “These folks will hate us for free. There’s no love for the freakin’ Taliban.”

Burchett, Luna, and 16 other Republicans still voted against the final bill. Among Democrats, the vote split 115-94, though most members of party leadership backed the measure except Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.).

Other Middle East Provisions

Beyond Israel, the NDAA provides funding to train counter-ISIS forces in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. It also repeals the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, marking a significant policy shift regarding U.S. economic pressure on the Assad regime.

Next Steps

The legislation now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan support suggests a smooth path to approval. Passage would send the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk, cementing nearly $1 trillion in defense authorizations and marking a significant deepening of U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation at a critical moment in Middle Eastern security.

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