CAIR Supports Amendment to Strip U.S.-Israel Defense Cooperation from FY 2027 NDAA, Opposes Anti-Boycott Measures
On 24 June 2026, the Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced its backing of Amendment 2 to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The amendment, introduced by Representatives Thomas Massie (R‑KY), Ro Khanna (D‑CA), Jim McGovern (D‑MA), Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (D‑IL) and Rashida Tlaib (D‑MI), calls for the removal of Section 219—the “United States‑Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative.” That provision would have deepened U.S. collaboration with Israel in research, intelligence and defense‑industrial integration.
CAIR’s letter to the House Rules Committee urged lawmakers to support Amendment 2 while rejecting two other proposals that would expand federal anti‑boycott restrictions. Amendment 151 would extend the Anti‑Boycott Act to boycotts promoted by international governmental organizations such as the United Nations, while Amendment 362 would require the Secretary of Defense to certify that DoD contractors do not participate in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel. CAIR warned that both measures would threaten First Amendment rights and impose an ideological test on contractors.
“Americans should never be asked to surrender their First Amendment rights to protect the political interests of a foreign government,” said CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw. He added that the anti‑boycott amendments would chill peaceful political expression and that Section 219 would bind the United States and Israel in deeper military, intelligence and technology integration at a time when the Israeli government faces accusations of genocide, apartheid, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The amendment to strike Section 219 follows the House Armed Services Committee’s FY 2027 NDAA, which introduced the provision as a new U.S.–Israel defense partnership. The initiative would allow Israeli technology to be incorporated into U.S. military systems and would create joint research and development programs in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, autonomous systems, directed energy, cyber and biotechnology. Critics argue that the partnership could implicate the United States in alleged violations of international law.
Last week, Rep. Michael Lawler (R‑NY), who had sponsored the IGO Anti‑Boycott Act provision, withdrew the amendment after outreach from CAIR and other civil‑liberties advocates. Lawler’s withdrawal followed a broader backlash against attempts to extend anti‑boycott restrictions to IGO‑backed boycotts.
The House Rules Committee will consider all amendments to the House version of the NDAA next week. CAIR is urging every American to contact their representatives and ask them to block all U.S.–Israel military merger bills. The organization’s letter, available on its website, calls for a clear message that constitutional rights and accountability should come before foreign policy demands.
CAIR’s stance reflects its broader mission to defend civil rights and free speech for Muslims in the United States. Headquartered on Capitol Hill, the organization has long opposed legislation it views as infringing on constitutional freedoms or supporting policies that violate international law.
At present, the status of the amendments remains pending. The House Rules Committee’s upcoming markup will determine whether Section 219 is removed, whether the anti‑boycott provisions are adopted, and how the FY 2027 NDAA will shape U.S. defense policy. The outcome will have implications for U.S. military procurement, intelligence cooperation and the broader debate over the United States’ role in the Israel‑Palestine conflict and its compliance with international human‑rights standards.
