Democrats stop Defense spending bill amid increasing shutdown concerns

Senate Democrats Block Defense Spending Bill Amid Government Shutdown

On Thursday, Senate Democrats voted against advancing a year-round defense spending bill, which had previously received strong bipartisan backing in committee earlier this year.

This vote illustrates the declining bipartisan dynamics in Congress as the government shutdown continues into its third week.

The Senate’s vote resulted in a 50-44 decision against considering the defense spending bill, largely influenced by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York. He argued that the defense bill should not move forward without a discussion on the annual Labor, Health, and Education spending bill, which requires 60 votes to proceed.

Schumer emphasized, “It’s not acceptable for Democrats to discuss a defense bill without also addressing crucial matters like health care and housing that matter to the American public,” during a press briefing before the vote.

Three moderate Democrats did support moving the bill forward: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire.

Cortez Masto and Fetterman have previously voted favorably on House-passed government reopening proposals, while Shaheen has actively participated in discussions with Republican counterparts to resolve the shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, introduced the year-round funding proposal on Wednesday. His move surprised Democrats and complicated negotiations by challenging them to oppose a bill that would ensure pay for military personnel.

Some moderate Democrats expressed hesitation about the defense bill amid uncertainty over whether it would be combined with the Labor, Health, and Human Services funding and other spending items.

Senator Angus King of Maine, an independent who usually aligns with Democrats, mentioned, “I’m still figuring out the plan, whether the defense bill and the Labor bill are proposed together. If it’s just a standalone defense bill, then no.”

Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) echoed similar sentiments, stating he was unclear about his vote until he received more information on how the defense package would be structured.

The $852 billion defense spending bill, which had strong bipartisan committee support, passed with a 26-3 vote back in July.

Thune characterized Thursday’s vote as crucial for ensuring that over 1 million military personnel would not miss their paychecks due to the ongoing government shutdown, asserting, “Even if we can’t fully restart the government, we can take steps to ensure our military is paid and protected.”

President Trump indicated he has instructed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to utilize available resources to secure military pay during the shutdown, though there remain uncertainties regarding the specific funds and legal authorities being used.

This vote came after Senate Democrats rejected a continuing resolution passed by the House, which aimed to fund the government through November 21, marking the tenth rejection of such bills.