The Senate voted 90-6 in the early hours of Saturday to pass a short-term funding bill designed to prevent a government shutdown before the upcoming midterm elections.
The bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) keeps federal funds flowing at existing levels to allow time for the negotiation of 12 regular appropriations bills for fiscal year 2027. If the measure is approved by the House and signed by President Donald Trump, it will avoid a funding lapse and partial or full government closure beginning October 1 nbcnews.com.
Key Provisions and Policy Disputes
The Senate bill differs from an alternative measure previously passed by the House in several areas. Specifically, the Senate version lacks funding for Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, both of which have already been funded through the end of President Trump’s term CNN reports.
The legislation includes several specific adjustments and protections:
- Federal Grants: The bill includes a temporary block on a proposed administration rule. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stated the measure prevents the president from holding federal grants hostage or blocking them to “blue states for political reasons.”
- Food Assistance: The CR includes adjustments to preserve the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Additional Measures: The bill incorporates national security measures and disaster relief.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, described the resolution as straightforward
and noted that it provides the necessary time to work on bipartisan appropriations bills according to UPI.
Political Stakes and Shutdown History
The move to avert a shutdown comes amid a broad anti-incumbency mood in the electorate and the proximity of Election Day on November 3. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., suggested that Democrats relented on the bargain to avoid spending three months defending against Republican attacks regarding a potential shutdown as told to Fox News Digital.
The urgency is underscored by a history of recent funding failures. Since President Trump returned to office, there have been three government shutdowns, including one that lasted 76 days and another that lasted 43 days. Across his two terms, Trump has presided over five shutdowns lasting more than a day UPI reported.
Other Senate Legislative Activity
The funding vote was part of a series of actions taken by the Senate before departing for August recess. During the session, the Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as the permanent head of the Department of Justice and rejected a voter ID measure CNN reports.
However, not all items were resolved. Senate Republicans delayed a vote on a budget resolution that would have included defense funding and parts of the SAVE America Act
elections package. Sen. Ron Johnson, chair of the Senate budget committee, stated that following a call from President Trump on Friday night, GOP senators agreed to develop a “better” budget resolution with increased defense funding to pursue in September according to CNN.
Additionally, senators failed to reach a deal on a procedural vote for a bill regarding the regulation of name, image, and likeness deals in college sports.
Next Steps for Funding
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives. Because the House has already passed a different version of a funding extension, its fate remains uncertain. If the House approves the Senate’s text, the bill will proceed to President Trump for his signature. Some lawmakers remain skeptical about the likelihood of a final budget being completed by the December 11 deadline, with Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., describing such a prospect as probably not gonna happen
Fox News Digital reported.
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