Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene reportedly ignited intense debate on Capitol Hill this week by calling for an immediate cessation of U.S. military assistance to Israel, notably demanding an end to aid amid ongoing conflict and worrying concerns that American resources are subsidizing a nuclear-armed state.
In a statement on social media, Ms. Greene, a Republican from Georgia, declared that “foreign military aid must cease,” adding that no further funding should go to “nuclear-armed Israel.”
The move comes as the House is poised to debate the annual Defense Appropriations Act, which provides billions in aid to Israel and its regional allies.
Greene’s pronouncement has stirred controversy within her own party, as lawmakers confront the growing influence of Isolationist sentiment among parts of the Republican base.
While a strong bipartisan coalition has long backed strategic U.S. support for Israel, recent developments — including civilian casualties in Gaza and increased unease over nuclear proliferation — have spurred openness to rethinking longstanding policy assumptions.
Supporters of U.S. aid argue that Israel remains a critical security partner in a region increasingly shaped by Iranian influence and instability.
They contend that withholding assistance would weaken Israel’s defense capabilities, embolden adversaries, and send a troubling signal to allies worldwide about America’s commitment to its partners.
Democratic lawmakers responded with sharply worded criticism.
Senator Jack Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, warned that “defunding Israel during a critical security moment would undermine decades of shared sacrifice and common purpose.”
He further cautioned that withdrawing U.S. support could destabilize not only Israel but the broader Middle East.
In response, Ms. Greene maintained that American funding should not underwrite a nation believed to possess nuclear facilities that exist outside of formal international agreements.
“We cannot continue to bankroll a nuclear-armed ally,” she insisted. “It’s time we insist on accountability and fairness.”
Prominent figures within the Republican Party, accustomed to championing conservative foreign policy and defense support for Israel, reacted with concern.
Senator Lindsey Graham, long recognized for his staunch pro-Israel stance, called Greene’s proposal “a step too far” that threatened to unravel consensus in Washington at a time when the region faces escalating tensions from Iran and threats posed by Hamas and Hezbollah.
The debate reflects a broader shift within the GOP, where a growing number of lawmakers and activists question global intervention and question the value of American stewardship in overseas conflicts.
In recent months, support for traditional alliances has encountered resistance from those advocating a redefined role for the United States on the world stage.
As Congress moves closer to a vote on the defense bill, Greene’s proposal offers a stark choice: whether to reaffirm U.S. military aid to Israel as a fixture of national security strategy — or to heed calls for restraint and fiscal scrutiny.
The outcome may provide a telling indicator of how deeply America First currents have penetrated modern conservatism.
[READ MORE: Trump Eyes Two Candidates For Fed Chair as Pressure Mounts to Cut Rates]
