For the first time in generations, the Pentagon spending machine is not running on autopilot.
On Tuesday, the Senate blocked this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) from proceeding, with every Democratic senator present voting against greenlighting a massive increase in funding for weapons and war.
Weeks earlier, the House’s own version of the bill was also stalled when a procedural vote failed on the floor.
Senators cited two crucial reasons for opposing the bill: pushing back against the illegal war on Iran, and stopping a staggering $1.15 trillion topline Pentagon budget — even as programs that feed, house, and heal us face deep cuts.
The war on Iran is not only unauthorized by Congress — lawmakers explicitly directed President Trump to end it by passing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution through both chambers last month.
Yet President Trump is continuing to illegally wage this war in violation of that resolution and against the wishes of the American people. Blocking the NDAA is a crucial way our lawmakers can use their leverage to hold the administration accountable, end this immoral war, and exert their constitutional war powers.
This is important and hopeful progress. More and more members of Congress are speaking out, saying no to endless money for wars that come at the expense of our communities and only cause more needless suffering and instability.
The path ahead to blocking more war funding will be difficult, with congressional leaders working to revive the NDAA and exploring other routes to ram through more Pentagon funding.
But the growing resistance to massive military spending in Congress represents a hopeful and historic milestone for the peace movement. Let’s keep up the pressure.
Elsewhere
ICE violence continues
Like so many around the country, we are feeling grief and anger over ICE’s killing of another one of our neighbors this week.
Residents of Biddeford, Maine poured onto the streets this week to protest the senseless killing of 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, who was shot and killed by ICE as he slowly drove away from agents. We are holding his daughter, his wife, and all his loved ones in the Light.
Also this week, another ICE traffic stop led to a 28-year-old man being struck and killed by a truck in Florida, and a 45-year-old Venezuelan man became the 22nd person to die in ICE custody this year amid rampant medical neglect and mistreatment in immigrant detention camps.
This cannot continue. As we wrote last week, ICE’s lawless violence and abuses must be stopped. Congress has a moral responsibility to act to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of all.
Growing Opposition to Military Aid to Israel
Along with the growing momentum to rein in Pentagon spending, increasingly more lawmakers are opposing unconditional U.S. military support for Israel that deepens our complicity in the oppression, occupation, and genocide of Palestinians.
In a milestone House vote this week, 104 lawmakers representing a majority of House Democrats voted to halt billions of dollars in annual military aid to Israel.
The vote came just days after Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-7) was detained by extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. As Rep. Khanna said, “We need a new moral vision…that respects the dignity and human rights of people around the world.”
More attacks on our elections
Last night, President Trump delivered a primetime address in which he once again sought to sow doubt in the integrity of U.S. elections.
President Trump’s continued attacks on our democracy are alarming and must be taken seriously. Read more from FCNL’s José Santos Moreno breaking down steps Congress can take to ensure everyone can vote freely and safely in the upcoming midterm elections
You Don’t Have to Be Alone: Building a Community of Activism
In these difficult times, community can be an antidote to despair. Check out our new video featuring highlights from this year’s Friends Changemaker Weekend, and learn more about ways to get involved in FCNL’s advocacy community.
