House Democrats Divide Over Amendment To Cut Aid To Israel

On Wednesday, dozens of House Democrats pushed back against an amendment from Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, aimed at reducing U.S. military aid to Israel. This amendment, which sought to eliminate $3.3 billion in annual assistance, didn’t receive enough votes to pass. The vote from Democrats, totaling 103 in support and 98 opposed, underscores a growing divide within the party.

This division aligns with shifting public opinion among Democratic voters. A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted in May showed 74 percent of Democrats opposed further aid to Israel, while only 8 percent strongly favored continued assistance. Within potential Democratic supporters, opinions vary: 48 percent believe the party is too supportive of Israel, 8 percent think there’s not enough support, and 34 percent feel the level is appropriate. This poll surveyed 1,507 registered voters with a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points.

Another indication of these divisions appeared in an August 2025 Quinnipiac University poll. It revealed that 75 percent of Democrats are against providing more military aid to Israel, reflecting tensions within the party over U.S. support amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Which Democrats Voted Against the Amendment?
Several House Democrats voted against Massie’s amendment, including Representatives Alma Adams, Pete Aguilar, Joyce Beatty, and Wesley Bell, among many others.

Massie’s proposed change would restrict funds in the fiscal 2027 appropriations bill for State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs by cutting $3.3 billion. This figure corresponds to the annual aid Congress normally allocates under the U.S.-Israel security pact.

The U.S. currently provides approximately $3.8 billion yearly to Israel under a 10-year agreement starting in 2016. This package comprises $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing grants and $500 million for missile defense projects, establishing Israel as one of the largest beneficiaries of U.S. military aid. Additionally, the U.S. authorized substantial emergency aid following Hamas’s attack in October 2023. This assault resulted in roughly 1,200 Israeli deaths and around 250 hostages taken, prompting an Israeli military response that has led to more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread displacement.

In April 2024, Congress approved supplemental appropriations, giving Israel an extra $8.7 billion. Massie has consistently opposed foreign aid and actively critiques the continuation of U.S. military support abroad.

On Wednesday, only one Republican, presumably Massie himself, backed the amendment, while 215 opposed it. In total, the amendment received 104 “yea” votes and 313 “nay” votes.

This action came shortly after Massie lost his Republican primary due to frequent disagreements with former President Donald Trump, particularly over U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and issues including the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

Democratic Reactions Prior to the Vote
Before Wednesday’s decision, several Democrats voiced their opposition to Massie’s amendment. Representative Sam Liccardo described the proposal as “flawed and overbroad.” In a communication obtained by The New York Times, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries argued that there are “more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary” regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and suggested that Republicans are “trying to weaponize an amendment they do not support for partisan reasons.”

Conversely, some Democrats showed support for the amendment. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged the need for change, noting, “The United States must be a force for security and stability. The American people are rightly demanding an end to a perpetual cycle of war.” Although she labeled the amendment as ill-conceived, Pelosi voted yes for the message it conveyed.

Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, stated before the vote that Israel’s actions oppose America’s national and its own long-term interests. Therefore, continuing unrestricted assistance would endorse an unacceptable status quo. Withholding funds, Moulton contended, wouldn’t leave Israel vulnerable, given its nearly $50 billion defense budget and the additional $9 billion Congress granted Israel beyond its annual appropriations in 2024.

Another Massachusetts Democrat, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, noted America shouldn’t provide a “blank check” to any nation failing to align with U.S. laws, interests, and values. She remarked that “the Netanyahu government has failed to meet that standard.”

U.S. Views on Support for Israel
The U.S. has maintained close ties with Israel, offering substantial military aid and diplomatic backing over the years. However, American public opinion has shifted since October 2023.

A June AP-NORC poll highlighted these changes, with 58 percent of Democrats believing the U.S. is overly supportive of Israel, up from 45 percent in January 2024. Meanwhile, 60 percent of Republicans viewed the current level of support as “about right.”

Overall, 31 percent of U.S. adults considered Israel’s military actions in Gaza as genocide, while 49 percent lacked enough information to decide, and 20 percent disagreed with the classification.

Within the Democratic Party, support for Palestinians has grown, contrasting a decrease in backing for Israel. 62 percent of Democrats expressed the belief that the U.S. is not supportive enough of Palestinians, a rise from 49 percent in January 2024.

Among Jewish Americans, the AP-NORC poll showed a 32 percent favorability for Netanyahu compared to a 59 percent unfavorable rating. Furthermore, 38 percent believe the U.S. favors Israelis excessively, whereas 24 percent think there is too much support for Palestinians.

Results indicated that 30 percent of Jewish American respondents view Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, compared to 49 percent who do not, while 21 percent remain unsure.

The study interviewed 1,022 Jewish adults between June 11-17, with a margin of error of 5 percent.

A May Pew Research survey involving 12,574 Americans from May 4-17 revealed declining views of the Israeli government. Republican favorability dropped from 65 percent in 2022 to 51 percent, while Democratic favorability fell from 35 percent to 16 percent.

The May Reuters/Ipsos poll found Democratic favorability for Israel decreased from 59 percent in 2018 to 22 percent.

This recent vote reveals that some Democrats, especially progressives, increasingly challenge their party’s longstanding support for Israel.