Muslim civil rights group says majority of House Democrats supported ending unconditional funding, signaling a turning point in congressional debate
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/15/2026) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a historic vote by 104 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to end $3.3 billion in annual military funding for the Israeli government.
This afternoon, the House rejected Representative Thomas Massie’s Amendment No. 8 to H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, by a vote of 104–314, with 10 members voting “present.” The amendment would have prohibited funds appropriated under the bill from being used for Israel and reduced the Foreign Military Financing Program account by $3.3 billion. However, the amendment received support from 103 Democrats and Rep. Massie, the sole Republican voting “YES.” A majority of House Democrats who cast a yes-or-no vote supported the amendment.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“Today’s vote marks a watershed moment in American foreign policy. For the first time, more than 100 members of the House – including a majority of Democrats who cast a yes-or-no vote – rejected another $3.3 billion in unconditional military funding for the Israeli government.
“Congressional lawmakers are finally catching up with the American people, who have run out of patience with using their tax dollars to enable the Israeli genocide of Palestinian children and families, the destruction of hospitals and aid centers, and the Israeli government’s expanding illegal occupations in Gaza, the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and Syria. Constituents across the country have demanded that Congress advance American interests and values, not provide the Netanyahu government with another unconditional blank check for murder.
“Although 314 House members voted to continue this funding, today’s vote showed that the era of nearly unanimous congressional support for Israel is ending. The 104 members who voted ‘YES’ sent an unmistakable message: American weapons, intelligence and taxpayer dollars must no longer be used to violate human rights, entrench illegal occupation or fuel ever-expanding wars across the region.
“This result belongs to grassroots organizers, Palestinian American leaders, faith communities, students, human rights advocates, and every constituent who contacted Congress. The amendment did not prevail today, but the movement to end unconditional military support for the Israeli government has crossed a historic threshold and will continue to grow.”
Before the vote, CAIR sent a direct vote recommendation to legislative directors throughout the House Democratic Caucus urging every Democrat to support Amendment No. 8. CAIR also sent a separate letter to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging him to reverse his announced opposition to the amendment and reject continued U.S. military funding, weapons transfers, targeting assistance and intelligence support for the Israeli government.
The vote exposed a significant divide within House Democratic leadership. Jeffries opposed the amendment, while House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported it. In total, 103 Democrats voted “YES,” 98 voted “NO,” and 10 voted “present.”
Contemporary reporting confirmed the vote and leadership split.
Democratic voters have moved even further than much of their party’s leadership. A recent AP-NORC survey found that 58 percent of Democrats believe the United States is too supportive of Israel, 62 percent believe it is not supportive enough of Palestinians, and 52 percent believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Today’s vote follows growing congressional opposition to weapons transfers to Israel. In April, the Senate voted 40–59 on an effort to block a proposed Israeli weapons sale involving armored bulldozers and 36–63 on a separate resolution opposing another weapons transfer. Both efforts failed, but they received overwhelming support from Senate Democrats.
CAIR renewed its call for a comprehensive embargo on weapons and military technology for the Israeli government, as well as an end to U.S. targeting assistance and intelligence transfers that facilitate Israeli military operations.
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The House vote also came one day after the Senate rejected cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 4784, the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, by a vote of 50–46. Because Senate Majority Leader John Thune entered a motion to reconsider, the legislation may return to the floor.
CAIR also opposes Section 622 of the Fiscal Year 2027 Intelligence Authorization Act, which would mandate deeper intelligence cooperation with the Israeli government, and continues to oppose unauthorized U.S. involvement in Israel’s war against Iran.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
– END –CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]