Controversial lobby group overhauls political machine amid mounting scrutiny

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee said Wednesday it will end candidate endorsements and stop making or earmarking PAC contributions, reversing the approach it adopted five years ago, according to Jewish Insider.

In a letter, AIPAC’s leaders said they want to build “a more strategic, consequential, and nimble political operation” and shift toward encouraging members to donate directly. The group's United Democracy Project super PAC, which has put tens of millions into campaigns, isn’t affected.

The change by the lobbying group comes amid sharper scrutiny. The outlet says AIPAC-linked money has turned into a weapon against lawmakers on both political extremes. More Democrats, including Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, now say they’ll refuse outside PAC money or AIPAC’s in particular, and AIPAC halted fundraising for 18 House Democrats this year after they backed cutting aid to Israel in response to mounting allegations of war crimes by international observers and human rights groups in Israel's occupation of Gaza. Israel insists it has conducted lawful defense.

Spokesperson Deryn Sousa said AIPAC members gave more than $90 million to candidates this cycle, against about $3 million directly from the PAC, which can give only $10,000 per candidate each cycle. “The only tactic we’re married to is the most effective one,” Sousa said.

This cycle, AIPAC took notable losses, including in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, where UDP spent over $30 million for Haley Stevens only for her to lose to former Detroit public health chief Abdul El-Sayed, an outspoken critic of Israel.

The move could also lessen the targeting of individual donors by activists who label their separate gifts as AIPAC money, a practice that has prompted accusations of antisemitism.

AIPAC's brand has become so controversial in recent months that even some Republicans have backed off any public association with the organization.