Democrats Block 2027 Defense Bill Over Iran War Authorization
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- Senate Democrats voted unanimously to block debate on the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, preventing the bill from advancing with a 50-46 vote that fell short of the 60-vote threshold.
- Sen. Chris Van Hollen called the NDAA a 'green light' for Trump's Iran war, arguing the administration has not secured congressional authorization for military action.
- Sen. Brian Schatz opposed the bill despite typically supporting the NDAA, stating Congress had not held an up-or-down vote to authorize the conflict in Iran.
- Pentagon comptroller nominee Jules Hurst told lawmakers he could not provide an updated cost estimate for the Iran war, citing his non-confirmation since May 20 and lack of access to current data.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders and Van Hollen led a group urging colleagues to block an NDAA amendment that would deepen U.S.-Israeli intelligence integration, demanding further discussion before approval.
- National Iranian American Council president Jamal Abdi called for halting all major legislation unless Congress explicitly prohibits funding for the unauthorized war in Iran.
Why it matters: The Pentagon faces potential flat funding or a shutdown if the stalled NDAA isn’t resolved, as Democrats leverage the must-pass bill to force accountability on war powers—putting $88 billion in supplemental funding and long-term defense planning at risk without new negotiations.
