President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday morning that the United States will halt its annual $4 billion funding to Israel by the end of 2026, altering the financial arrangement while maintaining military hardware sales to the Middle East ally.
Speaking in a phone interview on Fox News as U.S, according to The Globe and Mail. voters cast ballots in the midterm elections, Trump stated that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached an agreement months ago to terminate the payments. The surprise announcement addresses the $3.8 billion provided annually under a 10-year memorandum of understanding signed in 2016 by the Obama administration, alongside additional joint missile defense funding that brings the total package to approximately $4 billion a year.
Trump Cites Domestic Politics in Funding Cut
Trump tied the decision directly to political optics in the United States, pointing to criticism from left-wing Democrats over military assistance during the Gaza war. He singled out Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a vocal critic of unconditional military aid, when explaining why the administration moved to cut the funds.
The left uses the $4 billion payment — that everybody knows about, it’s no secret — as a signal of unfairness. And we can’t allow that to happen. I don’t like that, because it’s too easy. It’s almost too easy a target.
President Donald Trump, Los Angeles Times
Public opinion polls reflect changing domestic attitudes. A Quinnipiac University poll in June found that 48 percent of voters and 66 percent of Democrats believe the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, up from 16 percent and 20 percent, respectively, when the question was first asked in 2017. In Michigan, an August Fox News poll showed 55 percent of voters opposed continued military assistance, including 70 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of Independents, and 35 percent of Republicans. Opinion polls show that the public’s overall support for Israel has declined mostly due to the Gaza war, with polling from the Institute for Middle East Understanding’s D.C.-based IMEU Policy Project and YouGov showing a majority of voters in key swing states supporting the halting of weapons transfers.
Israeli Leaders Warn of Security Dangers
The fact that the security establishment, along with Israeli citizens, is learning about a change in the strategic relationship framework through the media highlights just how much Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct poses a genuine danger. We can no longer rely on him and must replace him.
Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the rival bloc seeking to oust Netanyahu, The Globe and Mail
Yair Golan, a leader in Israel’s opposition bloc, warned that an end to U.S. assistance would deepen the security and economic crisis and endanger Israel’s future. According to journalist and Netanyahu biographer Anshel Pfeffer in a post on X, the abrupt declaration represents a personal defeat for both Israel’s longest-serving premier and Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Netanyahu who handled interactions with the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman asserted in a post that the price of Trump’s support for Netanyahu has been $3.8 billion a year.
Netanyahu had previously spoken openly about the need to end U.S. military aid over the next decade, suggesting such a change was in the works, though never on such a short timeline.
Congress Retains Authority Over Military Aid Timeline
The implementation of Trump’s timeline faces institutional hurdles in Washington. Money is appropriated by Congress, and experts including former State Department official Josh Paul noted that it is not plausible there will be a total cut-off starting January 1 because funding is baked into existing and pending legislation. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill will retain substantial influence over the outcome, and while Trump mentioned concluding assistance by the close of 2026, enacting such a sudden change is virtually impossible, pointing instead toward a gradual phase-out of the current memorandum of understanding contingent upon congressional approval.
Meanwhile, lawmakers advanced a provision in the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, known as Section 219, which envisions much deeper defense cooperation between the two countries, including joint weapons research, production, and technology integration. Dozens of NGOs have called the idea exceptionally dangerous and urged U.S. lawmakers to scrap it. Commenting on the situation, David Schenker—who directed Middle East policy at the State Department during Trump’s initial term and currently works at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy—pointed out that past arms orders span a multi-year backlog awaiting shipment, which brings up uncertainties regarding whether fulfillment schedules will face prioritization.
Earlier coverage: Trump to Cut $4 Billion in Annual Aid to Israel
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