Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked the advancement of a must-pass defense bill in protest of Donald Trump’s resumption of hostilities with Iran.
The hold up of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) comes amid the fiercest exchange in fire between the countries in weeks, which has amplified frustration among Democrats that the US remains involved in the conflict despite the passage last month of a war powers resolution intended to force a ceasefire.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s top Democrat, said that his party could not support advancing the NDAA, a comprehensive measure that Congress typically approves every year with bipartisan margins, as long as the fighting continues.
“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,” Schumer said. “We cannot.”
All Democrats in attendance voted against the measure, denying it the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate’s bar for advancement.
Trump had earlier in the week threatened to impose a 20% “security” fee on vessels transiting the strait of Hormuz, but backed down on Tuesday, while vowing to continue the US blockade of Iranian ports.
In remarks during a meeting at the White House with Ali al-Zaidi, the Iraqi prime minister, the president said he was opposed to any fee on the strait, “but at the same time, it’s not fair that we’re protecting this strait for the entire world”.
The change in tack did not mollify Schumer, who responded: “Trump has no clue what he’s doing in Iran, and it’s a recipe for utter disaster. He had no plan and no exit strategy on day one of this reckless war. We’re on day 136, and nothing has changed.”
Republicans are incensed at the blockade of the NDAA, which will authorize $1.15tn in defense spending for the upcoming fiscal year, in line with Trump’s proposed budget. It also contains pay increases for service members, and funds for new unmanned weapons and counter-drone technology that military leaders say will be necessary for future conflicts with rivals.
“Democrats have allowed the politics of obstruction to determine so many of their actions for the last year and a half,” said John Thune, the Republican majority leader, ahead of the vote. “I certainly hope that Democrats won’t now put politics ahead of support for our men and women in uniform.”
