Democrats block $1 trillion annual defense bill: Here's what they say

Senate Democrats have blocked a $1 trillion annual defense spending bill because of President Donald Trump’s war against Iran. 

The Senate voted 50-46 against the National Defense Authorization Act, mostly along party lines. 

Why did Democrats block the defense bill?

What they're saying:

"The NDAA cannot become a permission slip for that recklessness that we see occurring in Iran," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, said ahead of voting.

"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 that Congress look the other way."

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a veteran who flew helicopter combat missions in Iraq, said she will oppose the bill unless it includes her amendment to end the war.

"Simply throwing more money at an out-of-control military operation is not strategy. It’s a recipe for a forever war," she said. 

The other side:

Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the package as a good bill and implored his colleagues pass it. 

"We have an obligation here in Congress to ensure that they have everything they need for whatever the mission may be," he said.

But Republican deficit hawks are skeptical of the big budget numbers, despite support for the war within their ranks.

What's next:

After the bill failed to advance, Thune switched his vote in a procedural move that will allow the leader to bring it back up for consideration again later.

What is the National Defense Authorization Act? 

This year’s NDAA would increase Pentagon spending to $1.5 trillion, up from roughly $900 billion last year. The White House has requested $350 billion from Congress under the budget reconciliation process, but House GOP leaders have said it is likely to be a much smaller amount, more in line with $87 billion the White House requested last month as additional funding for Iran.

The extra defense funding comes on top of the additional $150 billion Republicans already provided the Pentagon last year under Trump’s big tax breaks bill that some say has not been spent or fully accounted for.

The Senate bill would also block Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel funds unless he provides reports they have requested, including on a deadly Iran school strike at the start of the war.

Trump resumes strikes against Iran

Big picture view:

The Senate vote came one day after the White House formally notified Congress that it had started Iran bombing Iran again, reversing a ceasefire that had paused the conflict. The war – now entering its fifth month with no end in sight – has led to higher gas prices and other economic disruptions. 

Congress has tried repeatedly to slap guardrails on the administration, voting more than 10 times on various war powers resolutions that would halt hostilities. But those efforts have failed, as most Republicans in the House and Senate majorities back Trump.

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