Sponsors (21)
Official title: Enhance bilateral defense cooperation between the United States and Israel, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Theodore Paul Budd · Last progress February 12, 2026
The bill strengthens U.S.–Israel defense cooperation to speed deployment of advanced military technologies and boost industrial and research partnerships, at the cost of higher federal spending, competitive shifts in the U.S. defense industrial base, and increased security and administrative risks.
Military personnel, homeland defenders, and taxpayers gain faster access to jointly developed advanced military technologies (AI, missile defense, counter‑UAS), improving operational capability, force protection, and deterrence while accelerating transition from R&D into fielded systems and interoperability with Israeli forces.
U.S. defense contractors, researchers, universities, and manufacturing workers obtain expanded business, collaboration, and co‑production opportunities from deeper U.S.–Israel R&D partnerships, potentially creating jobs and supporting technology commercialization.
Taxpayers, federal agencies, and program managers gain predictable funding ($150 million per year for FY2027–2029) plus mandated reporting and oversight (interim/annual briefings, public updates), improving transparency and planning for implementation.
Taxpayers and some U.S. defense firms face higher costs: recurring federal outlays (including $150M/year FY2027–29), likely increased R&D and procurement spending for joint programs, and potential concentration of contracts that disadvantage certain domestic companies.
Stronger bilateral integration and expanded tech sharing raise national security risks — greater potential for policy entanglement in regional conflicts, leakage or misuse of sensitive/dual‑use technologies, and operational security exposures from public reporting.
Increased administrative and coordination burdens on DoD and partner agencies: frequent reporting, multiagency coordination, and prioritized initiatives may slow decisionmaking, create regulatory friction, divert staff time, and pull resources away from other DoD priorities.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DoD-led U.S.–Israel defense technology cooperation initiative, mandates reporting, and authorizes $150M/year for FY2027–2029 to support joint R&D, transition, and co‑production.
Creates a U.S.–Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative within the Department of Defense to expand joint research, testing, prototyping, and transition of Israeli‑origin and jointly developed defense technologies into U.S. acquisition and fielded systems. It requires an initial briefing within 180 days, annual unclassified reports (with classified annex option), public updates when practicable, and authorizes $150 million per year for FY2027–2029 to implement the program.