Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today filed three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) that would block the sale of nearly $658.8 million in offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel...
File or support joint resolutions of disapproval to block the sale of offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel.
Occurrences
Sen. Bernie Sanders, in a statement ahead of Wednesday’s vote, said Congress must use its oversight authority to block offensive weaponry to Israel.
"I want to thank the overwhelming majority of the Democratic caucus for their strong opposition to the Biden administration’s sale of $295 million worth of bulldozers used to demolish homes in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank, as well as $151.8 million worth of 1,000-pound bombs being used in Gaza and Lebanon. ... The United States must not be complicit in this crisis. That is why I filed two joint resolutions of disapproval..."
Evidence
On April 16, 2026, the U.S. Senate voted against two resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders aimed at halting arms sales to Israel, specifically bulldozers and bombs. While both measures were rejected—40-59 and 36-63—over three dozen Democrats supported them, reflecting a significant shift and growing dissatisfaction within the party toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. military support amid conflicts involving Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.
Nearly 100 people were arrested in New York City during a protest organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, demanding that Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand block a proposed $600 million U.S. bomb sale to Israel. The demonstration, which attracted hundreds of participants, began with an attempted sit-in at the senators’ Manhattan offices in response to Israel's intensifying military campaign in Lebanon and the broader U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
On March 19, 2026, Senator Bernie Sanders filed three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block the sale of nearly $658.8 million in offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel amid President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s illegal, premeditated and unconstitutional war with Iran. The sales included 5,000 'defense articles' relating to 250-pound small-diameter bombs, 10,000 500-pound bombs, and 12,000 1,000-pound bombs.
On September 18, 2024, Senator Bernie Sanders announced his intention to file Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block the sale of more than $20 billion in offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel. He cited concerns over Israel's military actions in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict.
On April 3, 2025, Senator Bernie Sanders addressed the Senate to advocate for Joint Resolutions of Disapproval aimed at blocking the sale of nearly $8.8 billion in heavy bombs and other munitions to Israel. He highlighted concerns over civilian casualties and the use of these weapons in Gaza.
On July 30, 2025, Senator Bernie Sanders forced a Senate vote on two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block offensive arms sales to Israel, citing the humanitarian crisis and starvation in Gaza. Despite his efforts, the resolutions were not passed.
On March 4, 2025, Amnesty International USA welcomed the introduction of four Joint Resolutions of Disapproval by Senator Bernie Sanders and other representatives to block the sale of more than $8 billion in weapon sales to the Israeli government. Amnesty highlighted concerns over U.S.-origin weapons being used in violation of international law.
On March 28, 2025, the Friends Committee on National Legislation discussed the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval led by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Tlaib and Jayapal to block over $12 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel. The resolutions aimed to prevent the transfer of offensive weapons implicated in civilian casualties in Gaza.
Vote Date: April 15, 2026, 06:17 PM. Vote Result: Motion to Discharge Rejected. Measure Number: S.J.Res. 32. Measure Title: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services. Vote Counts: YEAs 40, NAYs 59, Not Voting 1. Sanders (I-VT), Yea.
Assessments
The promise was to file or support joint resolutions of disapproval aimed at blocking offensive U.S. weapons sales to Israel, not necessarily to successfully stop the sales. Sanders repeatedly filed, led, supported, and forced Senate votes on such resolutions in 2024, 2025, and 2026 while serving in the same federal Senate term context. The resolutions failed, so the arms-sale blocking outcome was not achieved, but the promised action of filing or supporting the resolutions was delivered.
Bernie Sanders repeatedly filed and supported joint resolutions of disapproval to block the sale of offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel, fulfilling the action-based component of the promise. However, none of the resolutions passed, and the arms sales went forward. Multiple credible sources show extensive legislative effort across several major arms sales, but actual delivery of the promised outcome (blocking the sales) was never accomplished.