The National Defense Authorization Act has long been one of the few pieces of legislation that rise above politics, typically culminating in a bipartisan show of support for our military and national defense.Each year, Congress comes together to fund our military, equip our warfighters and make clear to our adversaries that the United States remains committed to peace through strength.This year, however, that tradition came to an end.Instead of debating how best to strengthen America's military, Democratic Socialists and online conspiracy theorists are choosing political theater over national security.
One provision of the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in particular – Section 1217, which establishes the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative – became the target of a misinformation campaign fueled by rising antisemitism and growing domestic hostility toward American power and influence on the world stage.THE US-ISRAEL STRATEGIC ALLIANCE – PARTNERSHIP, NOT CHARITYAccording to the groypers and far-left socialists behind this delusional campaign, Section 1217 somehow "merges" the U.S.military with Israel's, places American troops under foreign command and subordinates America's national security to another country's interests.President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Left) at his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.
(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)While this sounds like a great plot for a novel, none of it is even remotely true.Section 1217 builds upon decades of intelligence sharing, defense research and technology cooperation between the United States and Israel to accelerate the development of capabilities that strengthen America's military."Section 1217 merges our militaries." No, it does not.Section 1217 does not alter America's constitutional chain of command.
It does not place a single American service member under Israeli authority.This claim...