12 Senate Democrats Move to Strip US-Israel AI Tech Measure From Defense Bill

Twelve senators are trying to strip provisions from the annual defense policy bill that would deepen US-Israel cooperation on artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and chemical and biological weapons. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., leads the effort. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., are among the signatories.

The senators sent a letter Tuesday to House and Senate leadership. The letter targets Section 1217 of the Senate bill and Section 219 of the House measure. Both sections push greater cooperation between the two countries' defense industrial bases on weapons technology development.

The House provision carries the name United States-Israel Defense Cooperation Initiative. The Senate version is titled the United States-Israel Framework for Upgraded Technologies, Unified Research, and Enhanced Security Act — the FUTURES Act.

"The Senator is working with his colleagues to remove these provisions and will determine next steps should they remain in," Van Hollen's office said in an email to Military Times. "The Senator will continue to push to remove these provisions and push to protect the United States' ability to act independently and in line with U.S. national security interests."

Why does this fight matter for AI policy?

The provisions would establish a broader technological partnership covering artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and chemical and biological weapons defense, embedded inside legislation Congress routinely treats as essential. The authorization bill carries a price tag exceeding $1 trillion, which has already drawn significant opposition from Democrats.

Critics, including Van Hollen, argue the defense bills would shift military support from an aid arrangement to a commercial partnership. Under the proposed structure, the Pentagon rather than the State Department would oversee the partnership — a change that critics warn could reduce oversight of weapons transfers.

The senators warned that the proposed model "would constrain the administration's ability to independently determine how best to protect U.S. national security and would lock in long-term commitments despite our serious concerns with the Israeli government's actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and other parts of the region."

Opponents also contend the arrangement could compromise sensitive US weapons technology and provide little benefit to the United States.

What does the intelligence bill provision do?

The senators also challenged a provision in the fiscal 2027 Intelligence Authorization Act that proposes strengthening intelligence sharing between the two countries. According to the bill, the proposal is intended to help Israel "maintain its qualitative military edge."

The intelligence provision also seeks to help Israel "deter and counter destabilizing activities by the Government of Iran and Iran-aligned state and nonstate actors that threaten Israel, United States forces, and regional partners."

How did the bills get here?

The House version narrowly passed in July. Senate Democrats blocked their chamber's version during the same month because of objections to provisions involving the Iran war.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., previously attempted to remove the United States-Israel Defense Cooperation Initiative through an amendment while the House legislation was under committee consideration. The amendment failed. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., also emerged as a vocal opponent of the provision, giving the campaign rare bipartisan framing.

What is the broader context?

Scrutiny of US support for Israel has intensified during the past three years. Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel's war in Gaza has killed at least 74,000 Palestinians. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found the war that followed US and Israeli attacks against Iran on Feb. 28 is increasingly unpopular in the United States.

President Donald Trump promised to end outright military aid to Israel, which previously came through a Memorandum of Understanding. The current agreement expires in 2028 and provides billions in financing over 10 years for Israel to acquire weapons made in the United States.

The two countries already collaborate on some defense technology. Israeli contractor Rafael Systems and Raytheon developed the David's Sling missile interceptor system together.

Van Hollen's office said the senator will keep seeking removal of the contested language. If the provisions survive, his office said he will decide what steps to take next — leaving open the possibility of another blocking fight as the $1 trillion bill moves toward final passage.