Sponsors (180)
Introduced February 12, 2025 by Joe Wilson · Last progress February 12, 2025
The bill deepens U.S.–Israel defense cooperation and funds multi‑year programs to accelerate deterrence, readiness, and technology transfer, while increasing taxpayer costs and raising risks of entanglement, technology/oversight vulnerabilities, and opportunity costs for domestic priorities.
U.S. and Israeli cooperation will strengthen military capabilities, deterrence, and interoperability (joint RDT&E, AI/quantum/robotics, counter‑UAS, IAMD, anti‑tunnel), improving readiness for U.S. forces and allies.
Provides predictable multi‑year authorizations and extended authorities (counter‑UAS, anti‑tunnel, war reserves, RDT&E) that enable sustained program planning, procurement, and deployment.
Creates commercial and R&D opportunities for U.S. tech workers, small businesses, and defense firms through joint contracts and collaboration with Israeli partners.
The bill authorizes substantial new defense spending and extended obligations (multiple authorizations across programs), increasing costs for taxpayers and adding to budgetary pressures.
Deeper military cooperation and overseas deployment of systems risk entangling the U.S. in regional tensions or drawing U.S. forces into conflicts and complicating foreign policy choices.
Expanded technology sharing and close industry collaboration increase risks to sensitive U.S. technologies, IP, export‑control compliance, and classified information if protections fail.
Based on analysis of 10 sections of legislative text.
Expands U.S.–Israel defense cooperation through new joint counter‑UAS and emerging‑tech programs, funding authorizations, authority extensions, a DIU Israel office, and required Pentagon assessments and reports.
Creates and funds a package of U.S.–Israel defense cooperation actions focused on air/missile defense, countering unmanned systems, joint research on emerging defense technologies, and deeper operational and industrial ties. It requires a Pentagon assessment of integrated air and missile defenses in the CENTCOM region, establishes new bilateral programs and a Defense Innovation Unit office in Israel, increases and extends existing U.S.–Israel authority and funding caps, and directs multiple reports and safeguards for information, cost-sharing, and intellectual property. Sets specific funding authorizations for new programs (notable amounts: $150M/year for the counter-unmanned systems program and $50M/year for joint emerging-technology RDT&E for FY2026–FY2030), deadlines for reports and office stand-up, and conditions for beginning joint RDT&E activities (including required cost-share and reporting agreements).