Foreign Aid

Thomas Massie Sparks a Democratic Civil War Over Israel

His amendment to cut all military aid to Israel split the Democratic Party almost evenly.

Matthew Petti | 7.16.2026 10:23 AM

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The libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie (R–Ky.) is making active use of his last few months in Congress. One of his many last-minute pushes to disrupt business as usual was an amendment to the State Department budget that would fully eliminate U.S. financial aid to Israel. The Massie amendment failed 104–314, but not before causing Democratic leaders serious angst.

House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D–N.Y.) voted against the Massie amendment, calling it "overly broad." Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (D–Texas) responded that "the American people are crying out" to stop "sending billions of dollars to a military that has killed tens of thousands of civilians." Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D–Mass.) reluctantly voted for the amendment, while condemning the "stunts from Congressional Republicans who would rather score cheap political points than lead." It was an odd statement to make, considering Massie was the only Republican to vote for the amendment.

Under a memorandum signed by President Barack Obama in 2016, the U.S.........

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