Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie introduced legislation Thursday to force the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to register as a foreign agent.
Massie introduced H.R. 8809 to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, which requires individuals doing political, lobbying or advocacy work on behalf of foreign principles to register with the Department of Justice (DOJ). The change would require AIPAC, a lobbying group advocating for U.S.-Israel relations, to register with the DOJ as a foreign agent.
“Today, I introduced a bill called the AIPAC Act … which would make AIPAC subject to the Foreign Agents Registration Act. For some reason, they’re immune right now and I think not just the money that’s spent in politics, but the lobbying that happens on Capitol Hill should be reported if it’s a foreign country,” Massie told Redacted News.
We need more transparency in the foreign interest lobbying on Capitol Hill. That’s why I introduced the Americans Insist on Political Agent Clarity Act today. pic.twitter.com/ZrZ0FVQPzA
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 14, 2026
AIPAC fielded primary challengers against Massie, who has been an outspoken critic of the lobbying group and Israel’s influence over U.S. politics. He was a leading voice in criticizing President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran in June 2025 and the ongoing conflict in Iran which began on Feb. 28. Massie said on May 4 on the House floor that Israel “forced our hand and dragged us.”
Massie told the Daily Caller in June 2025 that his support for foreign aid in his district has gone down.
“I think with the general public and outside polls I’ve seen bear this out nationwide, the appetite for foreign aid has gone down. I think what Israel is doing in Gaza has diminished their standing in the United States, especially among younger people in the district,” Massie said. “But I will say this — they still have a tight grip on Congress. So the disparity is growing between what Congress is doing and what the people are thinking.”
Massie is facing a contentious primary challenge Tuesday against Ed Gallrein, who is backed by President Donald Trump. Over $25 million has been spent on advertisements, making this primary the most expensive in U.S. House primary history.
The Israel lobby spent millions on advertisements supporting Gallrein, with AIPAC and the Republican Jewish Coalition spending between $5.7 and $9.8 million on efforts to boost Gallrein. The Republican Jewish Coalition also spent $4 million on ads for Gallrein, while an AIPAC super PAC United Democracy Project spent $2.6 million.
Massie has represented Kentucky’s fourth congressional district since Nov. 6, 2012, when he won a special election to replace former Republican Kentucky Rep. Geoff Davis.
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