Democrats move to defund Yemen war after veto defeat
After failing to override a presidential veto on ending US support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, Congress is looking for new ways to tie the Trump administration’s hands.
Congressional Democrats are looking to the power of the purse to end US participation in the war in Yemen after President Donald Trump successfully blocked their efforts to make it illegal.
The Senate voted 53-45 today to override the president’s veto of their War Powers resolution to end US support of the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis, short of the two-thirds majority needed. But supporters of the measure are already planning their next line of attack, including efforts to defund US military engagement through riders in must-pass defense and spending bills.
“I’m not going to let the defense appropriations bill go without a vote on funding for the military campaign,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., an original cosponsor of the Yemen resolution who sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who authored the War Powers bill in the lower chamber, has also vowed to pursue the same approach in the Democratic-held House.
