(Jan. 9, 2025 / JNS) Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who has called for Washington to stop funding the Jewish state, was named on Jan. 8 to replace Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) as co-chair of a House caucus on cutting defense spending.

Omar will serve alongside Lee’s co-chair, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.). Lee ran unsuccessfully for Senate in the last cycle instead of seeking reelection.

Omar, a member of the far-left “Squad” in Congress, stated that Lee “has been an incredible leader in the fight to end exorbitant Pentagon waste.” 

“It is shameful that we continue to spend more money on a wasteful Pentagon budget than we do on priorities like education, health care and housing combined,” she added.

There are hundreds of informal organizations—called caucuses, working groups or task forces—comprised of Congress members.