12 US senators seek to block expanded defense and intelligence cooperation with Israel

Twelve US senators, including Bernie Sanders, sent a letter to congressional leaders on November 10, 2026, urging removal of three provisions from the FY2027 defense budget bill that would expand defense technology cooperation and intelligence sharing with Israel, warning the measures could undermine US national security.

Eleven Democratic US senators and independent Bernie Sanders sent a letter to congressional leaders on November 10, 2026, urging the removal of three provisions from the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would expand defense technology cooperation and intelligence sharing with Israel. The senators argue that the measures would give Israel leverage over sensitive American military technology, create long-term dependencies in the US defense industry, and constrain the administration's ability to protect national security. The letter specifically targets Section 1217 of the Senate version and Section 219 of the House version, which would mandate a US-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative covering biotechnology, quantum tech, AI, and cyberwarfare. A third provision, Section 618 of the Intelligence Authorization Act, would require expanded intelligence sharing with Israel that could not be suspended or limited. The senators also criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu's push to shift the US-Israel defense relationship from aid to partnership, and accuse him of having boasted about trying to initiate a war with Iran for 40 years. The article does not include any response from the Israeli government or the bill's sponsors.