Israel loses a friend in Congress

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 10, 2026

Rep. Kay Granger, a Republican from Texas and longtime U.S. House member, died last week at age 83 after 14 terms in Congress where she played a major role in U.S. military aid and foreign policy, especially toward Israel. As the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, she helped secure a landmark $38 billion military aid package for Israel and was widely respected for her influence on defense spending and U.S.-Israel relations.

Rep. Kay Granger, a longtime advocate for Israel and a prominent figure in U.S. congressional politics, passed away last week at the age of 83. A Republican from Texas, Granger served 14 terms in the House of Representatives, representing parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area from 1997 until her passing. She was widely recognized for her influential role in shaping U.S. foreign aid and defense spending, particularly in relation to Israel.

Granger made history as the first woman from her party to chair the House Appropriations Committee, a position she held from 2019. Prior to that, she led the House Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee between 2011 and 2017, overseeing the allocation of funding for the U.S. State Department and foreign assistance programs. During this period, she played a pivotal role in securing a landmark $38 billion, ten-year military aid package for Israel in 2016. The agreement, which originated during the Obama administration, included the provision of 33 F-35 fighter jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin facilities located in her Texas district.

Before her congressional career, Granger was the first female mayor of Fort Worth, serving four years in that role. She entered Congress in 1996 by winning a seat in a district that had been a Democratic stronghold for a century. Her victory, with nearly 58 percent of the vote, marked a significant political shift in the region and established her as the first Republican woman to represent a Texas district in the House. Throughout her tenure, she was reelected 13 times.

Granger’s influence extended beyond domestic politics; she developed a close working relationship with Israeli officials and frequently engaged in diplomatic discussions regarding regional security. Records indicate she visited Israel at least three times during her career, including trips in the early 1990s as Fort Worth’s mayor, in 1998 for Israel’s 50th anniversary alongside then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and in 2009 as part of a congressional delegation that met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli defense leaders.

Her commitment to Texas and the defense industry was also notable. She was a strong supporter of local defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Bell Textron, companies that maintained collaborations with Israeli defense firms. Former Lockheed Martin executive Eric Fox credited Granger with a lasting legacy in Fort Worth, stating she belongs on the city’s figurative “Mount Rushmore.”

Jewish and pro-Israel organizations mourned her passing, highlighting her decades-long dedication to securing aid and ensuring the security of Israel. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) described Granger as a “steadfast friend of the US-Israel relationship” who championed “life-saving security assistance to Israel for many years.”

Granger’s career spanned the administrations of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Her enduring presence in Congress and her influential role in U.S.-Israel relations marked her as a key figure in American politics and foreign affairs.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.