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Bill Banning Defense Contractors from Boycotting Israel Passes // Jimmy Dore
Jimmy Dore | Trusted Newsmaker
Lauren Boebert’s Anti-Boycott Bill: Forcing Defense Contractors to Arm Israel
While headlines were dominated by other crises, a bill quietly passed in the House of Representatives that could have far-reaching consequences for free speech, U.S. foreign policy, and the weapons industry. Spearheaded by Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado, the measure would bar American defense contractors from receiving Pentagon contracts if they engage in boycotts of Israel .
What the Bill Does
In plain terms, the legislation makes it illegal for U.S. defense manufacturers to refuse to sell weapons to Israel. Any company found participating in “politically motivated boycotts” would be blacklisted from Pentagon contracts. Considering that over half of the $755 billion federal contracting budget flows through the Department of Defense, this amounts to economic coercion: do business with Israel, or go bankrupt .
First Amendment Concerns
Civil liberties advocates warn that this provision sets a dangerous precedent. Hassan El-Tayyab, legislative director for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, called the measure an effort to “shield Israel from accountability by penalizing those who protest its human rights violations through boycotts.” Critics argue that political boycotts are constitutionally protected speech, and that this bill amounts to government-enforced censorship .
The BDS Movement Under Fire
This law is the latest attempt to undermine the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which campaigns against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Dozens of state legislatures have already passed laws penalizing BDS supporters, and former President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting the movement in 2019. Boebert’s bill takes that effort national, tying it directly to defense spending .
The Politics Behind the Push
The bill passed on September 11th as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with 214 Republicans and 17 Democrats voting in favor. Notably, there was no floor debate on Boebert’s amendment. Critics say the vote was rushed to avoid public scrutiny, particularly as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies and international condemnation of Israel’s actions grows .
Opposition From Unexpected Voices
The pushback wasn’t only from pro-Palestinian advocates. Conservative figures such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and the late Charlie Kirk opposed similar legislation earlier in the year. Kirk, before his assassination, warned that bills like this “create more anti-Semitism and play into narratives that Israel runs the U.S. government.” His statement highlighted a growing unease within segments of the Republican base over Washington’s unconditional support for Israel .
What Happens Next
The Senate has its own version of the NDAA that does not include the anti-boycott provision. If the two chambers cannot reconcile their bills, the measure may die in conference. Even if it survives, legal experts predict a wave of lawsuits challenging its constitutionality. Courts have already struck down similar state-level laws as violations of free speech .
Why It Matters
This bill is not just about contracts or defense manufacturers. It is about whether the U.S. government can compel private companies to align with a specific foreign policy. By punishing dissent, lawmakers risk eroding fundamental freedoms while deepening America’s entanglement in Israel’s military operations. If enacted, the law could serve as a template for punishing political expression across other industries, chilling protest and activism nationwide .
Lauren Boebert’s anti-boycott bill is framed as a show of solidarity with Israel, but at its core, it is a crackdown on dissent. By binding U.S. defense contractors to Israel by law, Congress risks crossing a constitutional line and setting a precedent where political loyalty tests determine who can participate in the U.S. economy. The debate over this legislation will reveal whether lawmakers prioritize free speech or unconditional foreign allegiance .
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