But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Tim Burchett
- Backed with $20K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
- Endorsed by AIPAC
- Sits on House Foreign Affairs
Burchett backs military aid to Israel: "I can't hold up aid to Israel in good conscience." He voted against the April 2024 package because its humanitarian aid "could end up in the hands of Hamas," and says U.S. funding for UNRWA should be permanently suspended.
The email has replies@butwhatcanyoudo.org in cc, so we can post their answer on their page in their own words; remove it if you prefer. Keep the subject line as it is, add your name, and send.
You asked Tim Burchett where they stand.
Deep Dive
Burchett represents Tennessee's 2nd District, centered on Knoxville, and is running for re-election.
His split vote record is explained in his own words. In February 2024 he voted for a standalone Israel bill: "It's a clean bill that would've provided one of our most important allies with what they need to finish the fight that Hamas started. I can't hold up aid to Israel in good conscience." In April 2024 he voted against the $26.3 billion package that combined Israel's defense systems with humanitarian aid to Gaza: "I have voted for two bills in the past to support our allies in Israel, and I would have liked to vote for this bill, but it contains billions of dollars in aid that could end up in the hands of Hamas."
On U.S. money to Palestinians, he introduced a resolution in February 2024 to investigate cryptocurrency transfers between UNRWA and Hamas, saying "the United States also needs to permanently suspend funding for this agency."
In later television interviews he criticized reported delays in U.S. weapons shipments to Israel (August 2024) and the administration's 30-day deadline threatening restrictions on military assistance over humanitarian access into Gaza (October 2024); both interviews are on video and are linked on the research page. In June 2025 he pushed back on direct American military involvement against Iran, a position about U.S. entanglement generally rather than about Israel aid.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 5 of 6 tracked votes · Backs 0 of 1 tracked bills to restrict weapons transfers
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
How this mark works
We track key votes on sending U.S. weapons and money to the government of Israel. A check means every tracked vote they cast came down against sending more, on the side of peace and de-escalation. A question mark means a mixed record: they sided with sending up to half of the time. An X means they voted to send more weapons and money in over half of their tracked votes, even as the way those weapons and dollars were being used became more and more obvious. At exactly half, money this election cycle from a lobbying group we track, or an endorsement from a group that backs sending weapons, makes it an X. Only votes actually cast are counted. Where a candidate has no recorded votes on these bills, the mark comes instead from a reviewed reading of their public record (money from the lobbying groups we track, endorsements, and their own words since January 26, 2024). There an X also covers fully backing the conduct of the war by the government of Israel without significant reservations, and a question mark also covers speaking about Israel without saying clearly where they stand on U.S. weapons and funding. A dash means No Position Found: we found nothing in their own words about Israel, Gaza or the war.
See a dash? Ask the candidate where they stand, then send us their answer and we'll review it and update the mark. Or volunteer to help review candidates.
Voted to send weapons or funding in more than half of their recorded tracked votes. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 5 of 6 tracked votes.)
The money
$20K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
In their words
AIPAC (2026 endorsement)
Research log
The notes behind this card: what we looked at, what we found, and where each item came from.
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2024-02-07] Voted for the standalone Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act. His release: "It's a clean bill that would've provided one of our most important allies with what they need to finish the fight that Hamas started. I can't hold up aid to Israel in good conscience." Opened and confirmed word for word.
- [Position, 2024-04-20] Voted against H.R. 8034. His release: "I have voted for two bills in the past to support our allies in Israel, and I would have liked to vote for this bill, but it contains billions of dollars in aid that could end up in the hands of Hamas." The release notes the bill provided $26.3 billion for Israel's defense systems and humanitarian aid to Gaza and passed 366-58. Opened and confirmed word for word. Note: the research dated this April 22; the release body says April 20, 2024.
- [Position, 2024-08-01] In a NewsNation interview he expressed concern over reported delays in U.S. weapons shipments to Israel, saying "I hope we support our friends and stay the heck out of it." Video source; not opened, quote as found.
- [Position, 2024-10-16] On NewsNation he criticized the administration's 30-day deadline threatening restrictions on military assistance if Israel did not increase humanitarian access into Gaza. Video source; not opened.
- His recorded votes on the tracked bills appear as badges on this card. The February and April statements above are his own explanations of two of them.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2024-02-07] Introduced a concurrent resolution for the State and Treasury Departments to investigate cryptocurrency use by Hamas and any exchanges between UNRWA and Hamas. His release: "We send the United Nations our taxpayer dollars. We need to be certain that not one penny ends up in the hands of terrorists, whether it's resources or cash or crypto. This dark money needs to be exposed, and the United States also needs to permanently suspend funding for this agency." Opened and confirmed word for word. The research's wording "permanent ban" is a paraphrase; his verb is "permanently suspend."
Characterization of the conflict
- [After October 7, 2023-10-11] Said Israel would deliver "Old Testament justice pretty quick" and "the last thing they want is America sticking their nose in the middle of this thing."
- [After October 7, 2023-11-29] Told pro-Palestinian demonstrators who interrupted an interview: "Y'all aren't helping". Video source.
- [Position, 2024-06-27] Introduced H.Res. 1323 condemning the UN for listing the IDF among child-rights abusers, calling the listing a "total joke" and saying "Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East and their leadership tries to protect life. Hamas, on the other hand, hides behind innocent civilians like a bunch of cowards."
- [Position, 2024-10-01] After Iran's ballistic-missile attack on Israel, urged cutting off Iran's resources: "We need to cut off their resources and make sure they don't come out of this unscathed." About Iran, not Israel aid; context.
- [Position, 2025-06-18] During Iran-Israel escalation, called politicians pushing direct U.S. military involvement "war pimps" and said the U.S. should stay out of another Middle East war while Israel handles its own defense. A position on U.S. entanglement generally; stated as blanket on the deep dive.
- [Earlier record, 2021-05-18] House floor speech: hostilities against Israel are driven by "hatred and anti-Semitism on the part of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad."
- [Earlier record, 2018-12-26] After a delegation visit: he has "always had a love for Israel" and understanding the conflict requires being "immersed in it for years before you can get all the nuances."
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Earlier record, 2018-12] As representative-elect, joined an AIEF fact-finding delegation to Israel (AIEF is an AIPAC affiliate), meeting Prime Minister Netanyahu.
- [Position, 2024-03] At AIPAC's annual policy research, remarked to reporters: "The world is kind of deserting Israel right now... So they're worried about that."
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Earlier record, 2018-12-26] "There's no room in American politics for anti-Semitic remarks."
- [Earlier record, 2020-01-29] Questioned witnesses on combating antisemitic violence in Europe at a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing.
- [After October 7, 2023-10-20] Co-signed a letter to Attorney General Garland on protecting Jewish students and investigating campus intimidation.
- [Position, 2024-04-30] Called for congressional hearings on the George Washington University encampment and D.C. officials' handling of it.
- [Position, 2024-05-06] Spoke in support of federal campus-antisemitism legislation (video; source not opened).
- [Position, 2024-06-27] Called the UN's IDF listing a "ridiculous, antisemitic double standard that Israel has to deal with" (same release as H.Res. 1323).
- [2025-12, as reported] Co-sponsored the Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act. The found source (moskowitz.house.gov veterans page) is another member's issues page; the date and the source are both weak, so this is recorded as unconfirmed.
Consulted and unusable
- Palestine Chronicle piece on AIPAC: does not name Burchett in the found claim's support; listing-adjacent source for the AIPAC-research remark, which the American Prospect piece carries directly.
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Michaela Barnett (Democrat)
- –No Position Found Adam Heimerman (Independent)
- –No Position Found Bruce Fine (Independent)
All Tennessee candidates.
See everyone on the Tennessee ballot →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open Find Your Candidates for votes, funding and contact details.