Democrats block $1 trillion defense bill in protest of Iran war

Democrats in the U.S. Senate have blocked a $1 trillion defense spending bill, halting the annual appropriation in protest against the war in Iran. The procedural vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) failed to advance, with 50 senators voting for it and 46 against. The majority of those opposing the bill were Democrats.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced his opposition to the bill prior to the vote. He argued that the NDAA should not serve as a "blank check for the irresponsibility we see unfolding in Iran." Schumer also criticized President Donald Trump, stating he cannot "drag the American people further into a war he cannot explain and does not know how to end, while at the same time demanding that Congress look the other way."

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NDAA must not become a blank check for the irresponsibility we see unfolding in Iran.

The vote occurred just days after Trump formally notified Congress that combat operations against Iran had resumed. The failure of the initial vote means that at least 60 senators must support the bill for it to proceed to final consideration. The stalled legislation would have significantly increased the defense budget and provided a pay raise for U.S. soldiers.

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Donald Trump cannot drag the American people further into a war he cannot explain and does not know how to end, while at the same time demanding that Congress look the other way.