Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers and former Trump administration officials for her characterization of a provision in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Ocasio-Cortez claimed on social media that Section 219 of the bill would "merge parts of our military with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)" and described it as an "existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy."
Republicans have pushed back, asserting that the provision, which passed the House in the NDAA on Wednesday by a vote of 219-206, strengthens defense cooperation between the U.S. and Israel but does not involve a merger of the two militaries. Section 219 calls for deeper U.S.-Israel defense integration, focusing on areas such as military technology, supply chains, research, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Former Trump administration official and New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin called Ocasio-Cortez's claim "FALSE," accusing her of misrepresenting the legislation. He suggested on X that she should "try merging the part of your brain responsible for reading bill text with the part of your brain responsible for critical thinking."
Representative Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., also criticized Ocasio-Cortez, urging her to "stop stoking Jew hatred." He stated on X that "We are not merging our military with the IDF" and argued that the measure expands existing defense cooperation, which includes intelligence sharing, joint military exercises, and collaborative weapons development.
While Republicans defended the provision, some lawmakers who opposed it expressed concerns about its scope but framed them differently. Representative Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced an amendment to remove Section 219 from the NDAA. However, House leadership did not allow the amendment to receive a vote. Following the procedural vote, Massie announced his intention to vote against the entire defense bill. "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."
Representative Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who collaborated with Massie on the amendment, also criticized House leadership for blocking a vote on the proposal to stop "the integration of our military with Israel's." He stated on X, "It is unconscionable to not even have a vote. We will be continuing on and will not be intimidated by the pro-Israel lobby."