Senate leaders are advancing a bipartisan government funding deal that aims to avert a shutdown ahead of a September deadline. The proposed continuing resolution (CR) would maintain current funding levels for most government operations until December 11. It also includes a provision to block a federal rule that would have granted the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) increased authority over grant funding.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, stated that she advocated for changes to the proposed OMB rule, citing concerns it could politicize grants and negatively impact small communities, families, and biomedical research. Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Appropriations panel, echoed these sentiments, celebrating the bill's block on the OMB grants rule for the duration of the CR.
A procedural vote on the package is scheduled for Monday evening. However, the bill's path forward is not entirely clear, as it requires 60 votes to overcome a potential legislative filibuster, and not all Republican appropriators have expressed support.
Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, voiced strong opposition to the deal. He described it as "A-number-one stupid" if it involves blocking the budget resolution and removing the former President's authority to review government grants. Kennedy indicated he would not vote for the measure and suggested that many Republicans and the House would also oppose it. He instead advocated for a "clean" CR that would extend funding at current levels for a few more months.
House Republicans, with some Democratic support, previously passed their own version of a clean CR on July 22. Democrats, however, had opposed that bill because it did not include a provision blocking funding for Border Patrol. According to Sen. Murray, the restored provision in the current Senate CR addresses the need for reform within Border Patrol.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Democrats have consistently sought to fund the government, avoid a shutdown, and pass bipartisan appropriations bills. He described the current CR as a "responsible path forward" that allows for continued bipartisan negotiations on a budget.
If passed by the Senate, the continuing resolution will then need to be considered by the House of Representatives, which is not scheduled to return from recess until August 31.