Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked the advancement of a must-pass defence bill in protest of Donald Trump's resumption of hostilities with Iran, escalating a congressional dispute over the president's military authority.
The hold-up of the National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) comes amid the fiercest exchange of fire between the two countries in weeks. Chuck Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat, said Republicans were 'ignoring the nation's most urgent national security crisis' by proceeding with the bill while fighting continues.
All Democrats in attendance voted against the measure, denying it the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate's procedural bar. Trump had earlier threatened a 20% 'security' fee on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz but backed down on Tuesday, vowing to continue the US blockade of Iranian ports.
'Trump has no clue what he's doing in Iran,' Schumer said, adding that there was 'no plan and no exit strategy' on day one of the conflict. Republicans, incensed by the blockade, accused Democrats of putting politics ahead of support for troops. John Thune, the Republican majority leader, said he hoped Democrats would not 'put politics ahead of support for our men and women in uniform.'
The NDAA, which typically passes with bipartisan support, authorises $1.15tn in defence spending for the upcoming fiscal year, including pay increases for service members and funding for new unmanned weapons and counter-drone technology.
