Cindy Hyde-Smith

On April 15, 2026, Hyde-Smith voted against motions to discharge S.J. Res. 32 and S.J. Res. 138, two resolutions of disapproval concerning proposed U.S. military sales to Israel. Both motions were rejected; her votes supported allowing the proposed transfers to proceed.

Hyde-Smith was an original cosponsor of S. 4337, the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, introduced in May 2024 to provide for expedited delivery of defense articles and services to Israel amid the Biden administration's pause of certain weapons shipments. The bill was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and did not advance further.

In 2021, Hyde-Smith was an original cosponsor of S. Res. 72, which opposed lifting sanctions on Iran without addressing the regime's nuclear program, ballistic missiles, terrorism, and other activities. In 2022, she cosponsored S. 4290, the Iran China Accountability Act, which would have prohibited funding for a new nuclear agreement until specified conditions were met, including certification concerning destruction of Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. Both measures were introduced and referred to committee without further congressional action.

In November 2023, Hyde-Smith joined senators urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to seek a new U.N. Security Council resolution restoring sanctions and restrictions on Iranian uranium enrichment, reprocessing and heavy-water activities, ballistic missile development, and transfers of nuclear and missile technology.

Hyde-Smith was an original cosponsor of S. 489, the 2023 Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act. The bill would have prohibited U.S. funding in Gaza unless the President certified that the money would not benefit Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or other designated foreign terrorist organizations; it was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and did not advance further.

At an October 2023 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Hyde-Smith questioned administration officials about Iran's financing, arming, training, and technical support for Hamas and other regional terrorist groups. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Iran had long supported Hamas, while noting that the United States did not then have evidence that Iran directly planned or ordered the October 7 attack.

Following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, Hyde-Smith joined Senate Republicans in affirming support for Israel and described the assault as a 'Hamas terrorist massacre.' She said U.S. solidarity with Israel should be matched by action to protect Israel and hold Iran accountable for its support of terrorism.

Later that month, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Hyde-Smith described the attacks as 'truly horrific' and said she wanted to support Israel while ensuring supplemental U.S. funding was used appropriately.

Hyde-Smith cosponsored S. Res. 288, a bipartisan resolution condemning ideologically motivated attacks on Jewish individuals and reaffirming the Senate's commitment to combating antisemitism and politically motivated violence. Introduced in June 2025, the resolution was agreed to by the Senate by unanimous consent on January 7, 2026. In October 2023, Hyde-Smith joined a bipartisan, bicameral letter asking the Department of Homeland Security and FBI to prioritize prevention of antisemitic violence and improve coordination, threat information, and security resources for Jewish Americans and Jewish institutions following a rise in threats after October 7.

Hyde-Smith was an original cosponsor of S. 3078, the Stop Anti-Semitism on College Campuses Act, introduced in October 2023. The bill would have barred colleges participating in federal student-aid programs from authorizing, facilitating, funding, or otherwise supporting antisemitic events and incorporated the IHRA working definition of antisemitism; it was referred to the Senate HELP Committee and did not advance further.

In May 2024, Hyde-Smith was an original cosponsor of S. Res. 670, which condemned rising antisemitism on college campuses and urged the Department of Education to ensure institutions comply with Title VI and protect Jewish students from discrimination. The resolution was referred to the Senate HELP Committee and did not advance further.

In October 2023, Hyde-Smith joined a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging DHS and the FBI to strengthen protection for Jewish Americans, synagogues, schools, Jewish community centers, and other religious institutions. The letter also supported increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to help at-risk nonprofit organizations improve physical security and preparedness.

violence-prevention After an arson attack badly damaged Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson in January 2026, Hyde-Smith said violence against places of worship was reprehensible and expressed solidarity with Mississippi's Jewish community and Jewish people around the world. Federal investigators later said the suspect targeted the building because it was a Jewish house of worship.

Hyde-Smith was an original cosponsor of S. 2479, the UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act, introduced in July 2021. The bill would have withheld U.S.

contributions to UNRWA unless specified conditions and certifications were met; it was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and did not advance further. In November 2023, Hyde-Smith joined a bipartisan group of senators urging the U.N. Security Council to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions on it. The senators argued that the absence of a U.N. designation and sanctions hindered efforts to restrict Hamas's financing and international support.

Following the January 2026 arson attack on Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Hyde- Smith publicly expressed support for the congregation and Mississippi's Jewish community. In April 2026, representatives of Beth Israel and other Jewish communities affected by antisemitic violence met with Hyde-Smith's office during a Capitol Hill advocacy effort focused on security assistance and protections for houses of worship. The meeting demonstrates direct engagement but does not by itself establish that Hyde- Smith endorsed every proposal advanced by the delegation.