Rep. Adam Smith, (D-Washington) has dropped his opposition to an amendment to strip a provision to merge key sectors of U.S.-Israel defense and intelligence planning, research and procurement from the National Defense Authorization Act of 2027. Smith, who is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, initially demanded that the amendment introduced by Representatives Khanna (D-Ca.) and Massie (R-Ky.), which would have stripped Section 219 from the bill, be rejected, and the committee acted positively on his recommendation.
Section 219 specifically calls for an integration of U.S.-Israel defense sectors related to research, development, and procurement of weapons systems utilizing AI and Tech sector capabilities related to the “battlefield of the future.”
In a message to his constituents, Smith wrote that he still believes that the provision offers benefits to the U.S., particularly in the area of anti-drone and anti-missile technologies. However, “after several conversations with constituents, I agree with the position that this provision is about more than just the U.S. working to improve our defense technology.” Smith describes himself to be a strong supporter of Israel’s right to exist, but added he is “very critical of the Netanyahu government.” He told the Wall Street Journal that his constituents discussed with him their anger at the brutal murder of a Turkish-American journalist by West Bank settlers. In explaining why he now favors the Khanna-Massie amendment, he said: “You have to put pressure on Israel somewhere.”
His reversal will allow the two Representatives to reintroduce their amendment, but Smith stopped short of what opponents of Section 219 have been emphasizing. Former U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich told Tucker Carlson that 219 eliminates U.S. sovereignty, by giving a foreign government a voice in making decisions regarding the nation’s defense. Former Congresswoman and Trump supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene said of 219 that this is what “a complete capture [by] a foreign government looks like,” while the Quincy Institute said the provision will lead to “limited oversight and minimum political accountability,” making the U.S.-Israel defense relationship “deeper and less transparent.”
The Khanna-Massie amendment is expected to be taken up when the Congressional recess ends on July 13. Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute, welcomed Smith’s reversal and called for a mobilization to back the Khanna-Massie amendment.
