The Senate voted early Saturday morning to approve a short-term spending bill that would keep the federal government funded through December 11, a move aimed at averting a shutdown ahead of the midterm elections. The measure, passed by a 90-6 margin, now goes to the House, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31 to consider it.
The continuing resolution (CR) came together after days of internal Republican wrangling over a White House-backed provision that would delay a ban on hemp-derived intoxicants like delta-8 THC until December. The Senate ultimately tabled an amendment from Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) to strip that language, voting 61-32 to keep it in the bill.
The legislation also includes a provision, pushed by Democrats and some Republicans on the Appropriations Committee, to temporarily block a rule from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would give political appointees more sway over the disbursement of federal grants. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the committee, has called the rule "deeply flawed" and had urged OMB Director Russ Vought to withdraw it.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) had made passing a funding bill before the August recess a top priority, warning that he would use budget reconciliation to bypass a filibuster if necessary. In the end, both parties were eager to avoid another prolonged shutdown, especially after the record-breaking 43-day closure in late 2018 and the subsequent fight over immigration enforcement funding that briefly shuttered the Department of Homeland Security.
"I think it's the most important thing for us to do," said Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.). "Because I don't think we need to have the harbinger of a possible government shutdown. So, take it off the table."
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) echoed that sentiment, stating, "For months, Democrats have been clear: we want to fund the government, avoid a shutdown, and pass strong, bipartisan appropriations bills that improve people's lives."
The path to passage was complicated by a dispute over a separate bill by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) that would set new rules for college athlete compensation. Cruz agreed to delay floor consideration of that measure until September, clearing the way for the funding vote.
Some House conservatives may balk at the CR because it lacks spending cuts, but the overwhelming Senate margin suggests smooth passage in the lower chamber. With the midterms less than three months away, lawmakers in both parties were keen to remove the threat of a shutdown from the political landscape. As slumping jobs data deepens GOP economic worries, avoiding a shutdown was seen as essential to maintaining voter confidence.
The Senate now heads into a five-week recess, with members departing after confirming Attorney General Todd Blanche and passing the funding measure. The House will return later in August to take up the CR, and federal funding is set to expire on September 30 if no action is taken.
