A newly suggested defense bill indicates that Congress isn’t looking to scale back U.S. tax expenditures aimed at foreign nations.
Chairman Mike Rogers of the Republican House Armed Services Committee has announced the National Defense Authorization Act of 2027 (NDAA). This legislation, backed by Democratic member Adam Smith, would allocate nearly $2 billion in taxpayer money to former al-Qaeda-linked governments in Iraq and Syria, NATO, and Israel. However, it remains uncertain if this bill will move forward as expected challenges in Congress loom, particularly surrounding anticipated price increases.
The Office of Management and Budget, the House Armed Services Committee, and the Israeli Embassy have yet to provide any comments on the matter.
Where Your Money Goes
Israel is poised to gain the most from the proposed 2027 NDAA, with projections estimating about $670 million directed towards it. Comparatively, the 2026 NDAA earmarked around $500 million for Israel.
This year’s allocation includes $20 million for Iron Dome, $300 million for the Israel Cooperation Program, and additional funds for various defense initiatives. Interestingly, the U.S. is already exploring the development of its own Iron Dome variant, which, according to the Congressional Budget Office, may cost around $1.2 trillion.
There’s also a set-aside of up to $50 million for emerging technology collaboration, though it’s not clear if this specifically pertains to Israel.
Historically, Israel has received an estimated $298 billion in aid since 1946. These numbers are sourced from the Congressional Research Service.
In a recent survey, 40% of Americans expressed a desire to reduce military aid to Israel, while 27% wish to maintain it at current levels, and only 11% are in favor of increasing it. This data was collected by YouGov and The Economist.
The NDAA also includes $604 million for the NATO Security Investment Program and close to $13 million designated for NATO research and development, even as the Trump administration has been advocating for increased financial contributions from NATO members for their own defense.
Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth highlighted during a press conference how the Trump administration’s actions significantly altered the expectations of NATO’s financial responsibilities among European nations.
As of 2025, the U.S. notably remains the largest defense spender within NATO, with an estimated budget of around $980 billion, dwarfing contributions from countries like the UK and France, who spend $92.8 billion and $68.9 billion, respectively.
The U.S. also reported that it has provided over $133.9 billion in military goods and services to Ukraine since fiscal year 2022, continuing amidst ongoing conflicts.
On a related note, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently reiterated Kyiv’s demands for U.S. military support in wake of escalating Russian assaults, calling for assistance in intercepting ballistic missiles.
The proposed NDAA features a $221 million “Cooperative Threat Reduction Account,” aimed at reducing risks associated with weapons of mass destruction, typically through international partnerships, according to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
There’s also $115.3 million earmarked for “overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civil assistance,” aimed at promoting U.S. soft power abroad.
Support for the bill appears to be bipartisan, seeing backing from both Rogers and Smith.
Another line item allocates $253 million for training and equipping counterterrorism units in Iraq and Syria, despite complexities surrounding the regions’ leadership.
During his term, President Trump had launched military operations related to chemical weapons in Syria, leading to accusations of regime change.
Despite the intricacies of past ties, it’s essential to note the significant investment the U.S. has made in the Iraq conflict, with a toll of over $3 trillion noted. This expenditure resulted in notable casualties, both military and civilian, from various reports.
The State Department has made statements about supporting a peaceful and stable Syria and reviewing ongoing terrorist designations.
The current push for foreign spending coincides with significant military expenditures in Iran, which have been reported in the billions.
In summary, the conflicts and spending decisions calculated today shape future engagements significantly.
