Senate Democrats block $1.15 trillion defense authorization bill Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked efforts to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a $1.15 trillion bill that typically enjoys broad bipartisan support but has become embroiled in partisan disputes over defense spending. The motion to proceed with the legislation failed by a vote of 50 to 46, falling short of the 60 votes needed for passage. The vote followed a contentious debate over the bill’s funding levels, with Democrats citing recent military actions against Iran and criticism of former President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict as key reasons for their opposition. The legislation, which passed the Senate Armed Services Committee in June with a bipartisan 18-9 vote, would allocate $1.1 trillion to the Department of Defense, $41 billion to the Department of Energy for nuclear arsenal management, and $11 billion to other defense-related programs. It also includes a 3.6 percent pay raise for military personnel and investments in education, housing, healthcare, and childcare for military families. However, the Senate’s failure to reach a bipartisan agreement on defense and non-defense spending levels has stalled the bill and created a broader deadlock in the legislative process. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) accused Republicans of ignoring the ongoing military conflict with Iran, which resumed on February 28, and criticized their push for the NDAA as if the war were not occurring. “Now the White House has formally notified Congress that hostilities have resumed, that American strikes are under way again and our forces remain positioned for more.#john_thune #senate_democrats #chuck_schumer #national_defense_authorization_act #roger_wicker
