Led by Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, the group is pushing to block the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) until the chamber addresses provisions that would mandate closer cooperation with the Israeli government. The signatories, including Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, Ed Markey, and Peter Welch, argued that the current legislative path forces them to back a policy they believe is out of step with the party's values. They explicitly warned against compelling the administration to deepen alliances with what they characterized as an extremist government.
This standoff arrives as the political landscape shifts; recent Reuters/Ipsos polling shows Israel’s favorability among Democrats has plummeted from 59% in 2018 to just 22% this past May. The proposed legislation, which authorizes a significant portion of a $1.5 trillion military budget, includes specific clauses to tighten intelligence sharing and defense integration. By withholding their support for the NDAA, these lawmakers are forcing a public reckoning on a foreign policy issue that has long enjoyed bipartisan protection but now faces intense scrutiny ahead of the midterm elections.
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