The Senate on Wednesday rejected a Bernie Sanders measure to block the sale of military equipment to Israel, voting 40-59 against a resolution that would have halted the transfer of military bulldozers. Seven Democrats joined Republicans in opposing it. A second Sanders-backed measure to stop the sale of 12,000 1,000-pound bombs also fell, 36-63.
The votes came late Wednesday, along with a separate War Powers resolution aimed at ending U.S. military involvement in Iran, which failed 47-52. Sanders said the level of Democratic support reflected a shift and, he said, “reflects where the American people are.” He said Americans want their tax money invested in improving lives at home, not used to kill innocent women and children in the Middle East.
The seven Democrats who voted against the bulldozer measure were Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, Kirsten Gillibrand, Jacky Rosen and Chuck Schumer. Sanders has pressed similar measures before, and the pattern has been changing: in November 2024, his earlier effort drew support from 18 senators, and in July 2025 his resolution to block the sale of assault rifles to Israel won 27 Democratic votes.
The latest votes also underscored a broader break among Senate Democrats from the party’s traditional support for Israel, at a moment when the United States and Israel have carried out coordinated strikes on Iran and Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon has continued despite cease-fire claims. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla said being a stalwart friend of Israel does not require agreement with every decision of the Israeli government or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just as being a patriot of the United States does not require unquestioning agreement with President Donald Trump and his administration. Sanders’ latest push failed, but the vote count showed the political ground around Israel policy is still moving.