Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked the advancement of the $1 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), citing opposition to the ongoing military conflict with Iran and proposed increases in defense spending. The 50-46 vote failed to meet the necessary threshold to move the legislation forward, following a largely party-line split. The bill included a pay raise for troops and a substantial increase in Pentagon funding.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the party would not support the bill without guardrails on executive military action, arguing that the legislation should not serve as approval for the conflict. Senator Tammy Duckworth introduced an amendment to end the war, stating that she would oppose the NDAA unless it included measures to halt military operations. The vote follows a White House notification to Congress that the U.S. has resumed bombing strikes in Iran after a brief ceasefire.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other Republicans urged passage of the bill, stating that Congress has an obligation to provide the military with necessary resources. After the vote failed, Thune changed his vote to "no" for procedural reasons, allowing the Senate to reconsider the bill at a later date. The Trump administration has requested a total of $1.5 trillion for defense in its 2027 budget, a significant increase from the previous year's $900 billion.