Key senators introduced a short-term spending measure Sunday designed to keep federal agencies operating through December 11, reducing the risk of a government shutdown before the midterm elections. The Senate is expected to consider the bill before beginning its August recess.
The proposal would largely maintain current funding levels while Congress continues work on the 12 annual appropriations bills required for the next fiscal year. Although the House has approved a similar measure, Senate negotiators added several provisions requested during talks with the White House and congressional Democrats.
The Senate bill excludes the administration’s request for $1 billion to build “Trump-class” battleships. It also includes language preventing the administration from shifting money from other federal programs to the Border Patrol.
Lawmakers are acting unusually early, nearly two months before the September 30 fiscal-year deadline. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described passage as his leading priority before recess, citing two lengthy shutdowns during the previous 10 months and the desire to prevent another disruption.
Long-term negotiations remain difficult. Republicans are seeking significant increases in defense spending alongside reductions in non-defense programs. President Donald Trump has proposed cutting overall non-defense spending by 10% while raising defense expenditures by about 44%.
The measure would also temporarily halt a proposed administration rule requiring senior political appointees to review federal grants based partly on whether they advance presidential priorities. Republican Appropriations Chair Susan Collins and Democratic ranking member Patty Murray expressed concern that the rule could politicize grant decisions and harm rural communities, families, and biomedical research.
Democrats want the rule withdrawn permanently, while the White House Office of Management and Budget says it would strengthen accountability and prevent misuse of taxpayer funds. Both parties are seeking to avoid a pre-election shutdown after two recent prolonged shutdowns generated public blame for both sides among voters.