Senate Democrats block advancement of defense bill to protest Trump’s hostilities with Iran

Image from video released by US Central Command shows an explosion at Bandar Abbas naval base in Iran after the US military fired one-way attack surface drones on 12 July 2026. Photograph: U.S. Central Command/AP View image in fullscreen Image from video released by US Central Command shows an explosion at Bandar Abbas naval base in Iran after the US military fired one-way attack surface drones on 12 July 2026. Photograph: U.S. Central Command/AP Senate Democrats block advancement of defense bill to protest Trump’s hostilities with Iran Chuck Schumer says Republicans are ‘ignoring the nation’s most urgent national security crisis’ amid US exchange of fire with Iran US politics live – latest updates Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email 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

Ajancsik

Are we prioritizing short-term political posturing over long-term regional stability? This military escalation could have catastrophic environmental consequences for Irans coastal ecosystems and marine life.

Jul 14, 2026 8:39 pm