Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D, N.Y.) has also criticized the proposal, warning that the provision would “merge parts of our military with the IDF.”
“This amendment is an existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Proponents of the provisions rejected Ocasio-Cortez’s characterization, arguing that the proposal does not merge the two militaries but increases joint investment and research.
Nevertheless, opposition to the provisions has continued to grow among lawmakers of both parties. Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D, Calif.) introduced a bipartisan amendment to remove the provisions in June, but the House Rules Committee twice denied it a floor vote.
The House subsequently passed the NDAA with the provision intact on July 22. But the broader defense package, which is historically considered must-pass legislation, faces an uphill battle in the Senate. All but six voting House Democrats voted against it, and Senate Democrats blocked a July 14 motion to begin the debate. A new motion to begin considering the Senate bill was made on July 27, but the Senate has not yet voted to take it up.
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