Senate Democrats Block Defense Bill Over Iran War Objections

Senate Democrats successfully blocked a key procedural vote on the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Tuesday, citing strong opposition to the Trump administration's actions regarding the war with Iran. The procedural vote failed with a 50-46 count, though Senate Majority Leader John Thune voted against it, a move that allows him to bring the bill forward again.

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The NDAA, in my view, has become a referendum on the Iran war.

Democrats have voiced sharp criticism of the administration's engagement in the Iran conflict, arguing it lacks sufficient congressional approval. They pointed to the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying forces and caps unauthorized engagements at 60 days. The Trump administration's stance that hostilities "terminated" in April, only to resume recently, has fueled these concerns.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the timing of the vote, noting the White House formally notified Congress of resumed hostilities in Iran just the day before. "Yet Republicans want the Senate to take up the NDAA, the defense bill, as though none of this is happening?" Schumer asked. "As though Congress can debate the nation's central national security bill while ignoring the nation's most urgent national security crisis? We cannot. I will be voting no."

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Yet Republicans want the Senate to take up the NDAA, the defense bill, as though none of this is happening? As though Congress can debate the nation's central national security bill while ignoring the nation's most urgent national security crisis? We cannot. I will be voting no.

Schumer further accused President Trump of "waging an unauthorized war, defying bipartisan majorities in Congress, refusing to level with the American people about the cost, the mission, or the end game." He asserted that "The NDAA cannot become a permission slip for that recklessness that we see occurring in Iran." The senator argued that Trump should not be allowed to "drag the American people deeper into a war he cannot explain and does not know how to end, and then demand Congress look the other way."

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Donald Trump does not get to drag the American people deeper into a war he cannot explain and does not know how to end, and then demand Congress look the other way.

Republicans, led by Thune, urged Democrats to support the NDAA, highlighting its importance for setting defense priorities, including a focus on unmanned systems and shipbuilding. Thune expressed hope for swift passage and collaboration with the House and White House. He suggested Democrats were allowing "the politics of obstruction" to guide their actions and implored them not to "put politics ahead of support for our men and women in uniform."

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Republicans are ready to go. The question is, how will Democrats vote today?