(Adnkronos) – Democratic senators have blocked the start of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) process in the United States Senate, the annual defense policy bill worth a record $1.15 trillion, contesting President Donald Trump’s handling of the war with Iran. The opposition was led by Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer, who justified the no vote by accusing the president of having dragged the country into conflict without congressional approval.
“Trump started this war without authorization, without a strategy, and without an exit,” Schumer stated, quoted by American media. Democrats also fear that approving such a large budget for the Pentagon could be interpreted as a green light for military operations against Iran, especially as the administration has recently announced the reinstatement of the blockade of Iranian ports and a new wave of attacks. Despite the halt, the NDAA’s legislative process is still in its preliminary stages: the House and Senate will have to approve their respective versions of the text, which will then be harmonized into a final compromise to be put to a vote again in both Chambers, before President Trump’s eventual signature.
