Washington’s Anti-BDS Amendment: A Veil for Corporate Defence

In light of Gaza-related boycotts of American products, Washington is attempting to secure market share.

Image: Britannica

On 10 September, the US House of Representatives approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, incorporating a contentious anti-BDS amendment. Folded into the $895 billion defence appropriation, the provision prohibits federal agencies from contracting with entities participating in boycotts of Israel. Chief among these agencies is the Department of Defense, which accounts for over half of the government’s $755 billion annual procurement. Presented as a bulwark against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, the measure in practice entrenches Washington’s geopolitical remit, binding corporate interests more tightly to US–Israel strategic priorities. Its passage also comes against the backdrop of accelerating de-dollarisation and growing boycotts of Israeli technologies that underpin key US exports, signalling a defensive posture against a potential shift away from American dominance of the global financial system.