But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Don Beyer
Beyer voted for the July 2026 amendment cutting $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel, saying that "No foreign government is entitled to American taxpayer dollars or assistance, particularly those that have acted against U.S. interests and values".
✉ Copy a message to send them
We don’t have a campaign email on file yet. Copy this message and send it through their website or a public social account.
If you send this from your own email, cc replies@butwhatcanyoudo.org so we can post their answer.
Deep Dive
Beyer represents Virginia's 8th District in Northern Virginia and is running for re-election. He is one of the House Democrats who has moved furthest on this question, and he has explained each step.
His July 2026 statement announced his intent to vote for the Massie amendment, which his own release describes as cutting "U.S. assistance to Israel, primarily through reducing Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Israel by $3.3 billion." His reasoning: "The disastrous Iran War has further demonstrated the strategic costs of our alliance which has grown closer even as it makes less sense for the United States. No foreign government is entitled to American taxpayer dollars or assistance, particularly those that have acted against U.S. interests and values, as Prime Minister Netanyahu's government has done increasingly in recent years."
Two years earlier he had drawn the line differently but in the same direction. In April 2024 he opposed the Israel supplemental: "Unlike Ukraine, Israel simply does not need fiscal assistance from the United States at the level contained in this bill. Israel is a wealthy nation with the ability to borrow, and recently-passed appropriations language provided Israel with $3.8 billion. I support humanitarian assistance and have voted in the past to fund defensive capabilities including Iron Dome, but too much of this funding is likely to pay for weapons..." In the same statement he said the IDF campaign "has resulted in far too many civilian casualties, which significantly undercut claims of rigorous targeting or careful adherence to rules of engagement."
In February 2024 he told Business Insider he supported defensive aid such as Iron Dome but saw no urgent need for more offensive weaponry.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 1 of 6 tracked votes · Backs 1 of 1 tracked bills to restrict weapons transfers
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 some, but no more than half, of their recorded tracked votes. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 1 of 6 tracked votes.)
The money
Checked the five lobbying groups we track; no direct 2026 support found
In their words
A New Policy PAC (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, 2026-07-15] His statement announcing his vote for the Massie amendment, opened and confirmed word for word. The release's own description: the amendment "would cut U.S. assistance to Israel, primarily through reducing Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Israel by $3.3 billion." His words: "It is past time for our nation to fundamentally reevaluate its security relationship with the state of Israel." And: "The disastrous Iran War has further demonstrated the strategic costs of our alliance which has grown closer even as it makes less sense for the United States. No foreign government is entitled to American taxpayer dollars or assistance, particularly those that have acted against U.S. interests and values, as Prime Minister Netanyahu's government has done increasingly in recent years."
- [Position, 2024-04-20] Statement opposing the Israel security supplemental, confirmed verbatim: "Unlike Ukraine, Israel simply does not need fiscal assistance from the United States at the level contained in this bill. Israel is a wealthy nation with the ability to borrow, and recently-passed appropriations language provided Israel with $3.8 billion. I support humanitarian assistance and have voted in the past to fund defensive capabilities including Iron Dome, but too much of this funding is likely to pay for weapons th[at...]"
- [Position, 2024-02-07] Business Insider: supported defensive aid such as Iron Dome but saw no urgent need to send additional offensive weaponry, saying "October 7 was a terrible, evil attack... but I'm not worried about the existence of the State of Israel." Not opened.
- [After October 7, 2023-11-01] Statement opposing the Republican Israel supplemental over IRS cuts and its omission of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. From the weeks right after October 7.
- [2026-07-16] ArlNow coverage of his vote. Third-party reporting; his own release is the source used.
- His recorded votes on the tracked bills appear as badges on this card, and the July 2026 statement is his own explanation of the most recent one.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2024-04-20] "I support humanitarian assistance" (confirmed, above), stated alongside his objection to the military funding, which is why the card and deep dive keep both halves.
- [After October 7, 2023-11-01] Criticized the Republican bill for omitting humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2024-04-20] The IDF campaign "has resulted in far too many civilian casualties, which significantly undercut claims of rigorous targeting or careful adherence to rules of engagement. Too many well-documented incidents have either gone uninvestigated or resulted in pro forma investigations" (confirmed).
- [Position, 2025-01-15] Welcomed the ceasefire, calling the conflict a "terrible tragedy" and urging a "viable Palestinian state."
- [Position, 2025-03-19] Called the resumption of operations a "tragedy in the making" and criticized the administration for endorsing "ethnic cleansing fantasies" and giving Netanyahu's coalition a blank check.
- [After October 7, 2023-11-15 and 2023-12-04] Statements advocating negotiated temporary ceasefires and hostage exchanges.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [2026-08-11] A Virginia political newsletter interview in which he discusses AIPAC and other subjects. Not opened.
- A Times of Israel article about a Michigan Senate primary was returned among his sources; it concerns a different race and different candidates, and nothing from it is used.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- Nothing distinct located.
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Tony Sabio (Republican)
- –Research Underway Tim S. Sharman (Independent)
- –Research Underway Shelly M. Arnoldi (Libertarian)
All Virginia candidates.
See everyone on the Virginia 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.