Senate Moves to Avert Government Shutdown
The Senate has made a significant move to prevent an upcoming partial government shutdown by passing funding legislation earlier than is typical.
On Friday, senators approved three out of twelve budget bills aimed at avoiding partial closures. This includes funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture, new military facilities, and Congress itself.
Senate Budget Committee Chair Susan Collins expressed enthusiasm, noting that this marks the first time since 2018 that such progress was made. She emphasized the importance of fulfilling constitutional financial responsibilities.
Generally, the passage of these three spending bills tends to be contentious. However, achieving this milestone is crucial to sidestepping an impending fall shutdown.
Interestingly, Democrats have frequently highlighted shutdown threats in Congress, viewing them as opportunities to point out President Trump’s previous use of tactics to reduce spending without formally approving budget cuts.
Another point to consider is that Congress hasn’t successfully passed all twelve spending bills on time since 1997. Each fiscal year begins on October 1, and funds are necessary to prevent any interruptions.
To navigate funding issues, Congress has typically relied on what’s known as a continuing resolution (CR). Notably, these spending measures require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster in the Senate, which adds to the complexity of the budgeting process.
Currently, the government is functioning on a year-long CR, with discussions already hinting at the possibility of extending this through 2026.
This past Friday, the Senate voted 87-9 for a minibus funding the VA and the Department of Agriculture, followed by an 81-15 vote on a third bill for Congress.
Senator Patty Murray, the Democratic budget chair, argued that the modest agreement would help prevent cuts proposed by Trump and House Republicans.
There are still nine more budget bills pending, covering areas such as defense, energy, and transportation. The Senate Appropriations Committee has already greenlit about half of them, moving closer to a comprehensive vote.
These spending bills must receive House approval during August’s recess and ultimately be signed into law by President Trump.
Senate Majority Leader John Tune has been busy during the August break, trying to address the backlog while also negotiating with Democrats on a strategy to expedite the process for a significant Trump nomination.
