Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, the Republican chair of the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee responsible for foreign aid and State Department funding, has publicly affirmed the strong bipartisan support for Israel’s actions amid the escalating Iran conflict. During an interview with Fox News Digital, Diaz-Balart emphasized that the U.S. Congress remains united in backing Israel as it faces mounting threats from Iran. While acknowledging the ongoing tensions in the region, he highlighted the importance of ensuring Israel has the necessary resources to defend itself, calling it a critical priority for the nation. Diaz-Balart also commended President Donald Trump for his handling of the volatile situation, describing it as ‘brilliantly’ executed so far. The Florida Republican noted that the House GOP remains committed to supporting Israel, even as challenges and criticisms about the cost of foreign aid grow. The National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs subcommittee has been central to drafting emergency aid packages for Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine, which have historically seen broad bipartisan support, despite recent shifts in the political landscape. Dias-Balart also mentioned that while lawmakers are currently focused on their home districts, there have been informal discussions about potential supplemental funding for Israel. He emphasized his personal commitment to ensuring Israel receives all the assistance it needs, though he declined to comment on the stance of other members of Congress. Amid rising tensions and the potential for a prolonged conflict, Diaz-Balart expressed confidence that a supplemental funding effort would still command strong bipartisan support, highlighting the ongoing importance of U.S. backing for Israel.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, the Republican chair of the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee responsible for overseeing foreign aid and State Department funding, has publicly affirmed the strong bipartisan support for Israel’s actions amid the escalating Iran conflict. During an interview with Fox News Digital, Diaz-Balart emphasized that the U.S. Congress remains united in backing Israel as it faces mounting threats from Iran. While acknowledging the ongoing tensions in the region, he highlighted the importance of ensuring Israel has the necessary resources to defend itself, calling it a critical priority for the nation. Diaz-Balart also commended President Donald Trump for his handling of the volatile situation, describing it as ‘brilliantly’ executed so far. The Florida Republican noted that the House GOP remains committed to supporting Israel, even as challenges and criticisms about the cost of foreign aid grow.
The National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs subcommittee has been central to drafting emergency aid packages for Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine, which have historically seen broad bipartisan support, despite recent shifts in the political landscape. Dias-Balart also mentioned that while lawmakers are currently focused on their home districts, there have been informal discussions about potential supplemental funding for Israel. He emphasized his personal commitment to ensuring Israel receives all the assistance it needs, though he declined to comment on the stance of other members of Congress. Amid rising tensions and the potential for a prolonged conflict, Diaz-Balart expressed confidence that a supplemental funding effort would still command strong bipartisan support, highlighting the ongoing importance of U.S. backing for Israel.
Israeli officials claim that Iran is dangerously close to possessing a nuclear weapon following its military strike on Tehran, which killed the Islamic regime’s top military figures and damaged nuclear facilities in the capital. Since then, both sides have exchanged rocket fire, with casualties reported on both sides. While the conflict has raised significant international concerns, the U.S. has remained a key ally to Israel, with the possibility of additional funding to support its defense efforts. However, the growing national debt and increasing skepticism within the GOP about the financial implications of foreign aid have created some political tension. Diaz-Balart, however, remains optimistic that a potential supplemental package could still pass in Congress if needed, noting the continued bipartisan solidarity in supporting Israel’s security.
Fox News Digital reached out to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., for comment on the possibility of supplemental funding to Israel. While no official statements have been released, Diaz-Balart’s comments suggest that the House GOP is still committed to supporting Israel, even in the face of broader fiscal challenges. Last year, the House authorized just over $26 billion in emergency U.S. funding for Israel, humanitarian aid in the region, and American military operations. The bill passed in an overwhelmingly bipartisan 366 to 58 vote — an increasingly rare occurrence for major legislation in the current political climate. Twenty-one House Republicans and 37 Democrats voted against the measure at the time, but since then, Democrats have continued to grow increasingly critical of Israel’s war in Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative government. Nonetheless, the bipartisan support for Israel remains a key issue in the current political landscape, with the House GOP continuing to advocate for additional funding to ensure Israel’s continued security and military capabilities.