A congressional defense bill contains a hidden provision to merge the US and Israeli militaries at the highest levels, framed here as a dangerous surrender of American independence.

• Section 219 of the 2027 defense bill would integrate US and Israeli forces in AI, cyber, missile defense, and other sensitive areas — critics call it a merger that hands Israel a seat at the table.
• Once passed, oversight moves to the Pentagon, so Congress would never vote on these matters again and the arrangement runs on autopilot.
• The bill sets US military spending at $1.5 trillion a year — a 67% jump — while cutting food aid, healthcare, education, and job training.
• Because it bypasses the treaty process, backers argue it is unconstitutional and could let Israel drag the US into wars with Turkey, Egypt, or Iran.
• Netanyahu is credited with the idea, and it was slipped into a 1,000-page bill with no hearings or standalone debate.

Outlook: Congress returns July 13 and may force an up-or-down vote on the full bill this month, with the merger provision buried inside.