Led by Senate Republicans, the Senate This Week Will Vote to Pass a Continuing Resolution, Removing the Threat of a Fall Government Shutdown and a Repeat of 2025
THIS WEEK, THE SENATE IS CONSIDERING A BIPARTISAN CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL DECEMBER
“This measure gives Congress the time we need to continue our work on bipartisan appropriations bills, which are always my strong preference for handling annual government funding. I am grateful for the work of my colleagues; this CR is a major step toward averting a damaging shutdown that only harms vital programs and federal workers.” – Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine)
- “Senators on the Appropriations Committee on Sunday agreed to a funding bill that would prevent a government shutdown at the end of September and fund the government through part of December.” (The Hill: Senate appropriators reach funding deal to avoid shutdown – 8/2/26)
- “Under the bipartisan plan, federal agencies would be funded through Dec. 11 at current levels, with some exceptions.” (Politico: Senate finalizes funding patch that would block Trump’s grant overhaul – 8/2/26)
- “Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Patty Murray (Washington), the lead Democratic appropriator, worked jointly on the bill…” (The Washington Post: Senate GOP rushes to pass budget bill, avoid shutdown ahead of midterms – 8/3/26)
- “If the Senate approves it, the House could take the measure up when lawmakers return at the end of August. Unless Congress acts, the government is set to run out of funds on Oct. 1.” (The Washington Post: Senate GOP rushes to pass budget bill, avoid shutdown ahead of midterms – 8/3/26)
- The Senate advanced the measure Monday by a large bipartisan vote of 89-4. (H.R. 6500: Roll Call Vote #218 – 8/3/26)
THE SENATE’S CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT INCLUDES SEVERAL IMPORTANT BIPARTISAN EXTENSIONS
- “The measure differs in important ways from a version of the bill passed by the House: It incorporates White House requests to maintain funding for housing and nutrition programs through the fall, and it would extend an expiring authorization for veterans’ health care.” (The Washington Post: Senate GOP rushes to pass budget bill, avoid shutdown ahead of midterms – 8/3/26)
- “The bill would include ‘necessary adjustments’ for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children; the Disaster Relief Fund; and shipbuilding across several vessels.” (The Hill: Senate appropriators reach funding deal to avoid shutdown – 8/2/26)
- The continuing resolution “would also extend the Defense Production Act, which lets the government compel industry to produce materials critical to national security, through Dec. 11. That authority expires Sept. 30 absent congressional action.” (Punchbowl News: Midday: Examining the CR — and its chances – 8/3/26)
- “But Democrats were unable to secure additional provisions, like one aimed at preventing the administration from pursuing so-called ‘pocket rescissions’ to claw back previously appropriated funding.” (CBS News: Senate pushes ahead with plan to fund the government through midterm elections – 8/3/26)
SHUTDOWNS ARE HARMFUL TO GOVERNMENT WORKERS AND THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE, AND THEY DO NOT ACHIEVE THE POLICY AIMS OF THE PARTY INSTIGATING ONE
- Democrats instigated two unprecedented government shutdowns in the past year (76-day partial and 43-day full) that degraded homeland security and harmed the lives of government workers: (The Wall Street Journal: Senators to Suspend Their Pay During Government Shutdowns – 5/14/26)
- “The shutdown’s uncertainty has taken a toll on ICE and CBP staffers, particularly professional and civilian support staff who missed paychecks in the early weeks of funding lapse, said an administration official.” (Politico: ‘Six months to catch up’: What the shutdown cost DHS – 5/2/26)
- Between both of Democrats’ government shutdowns, over 2,200 officers at the Transportation Security Administration quit their jobs. (Politico: Over 1,000 TSA officers have quit amid shutdown – 4/27/26)
- “Two FEMA staffers… said the shutdown has exacerbated concerns about preparation for hurricanes and other severe summer weather.” (Politico: ‘Six months to catch up’: What the shutdown cost DHS – 5/2/26)
- “The U.S. Coast Guard cannot pay its bills. The military branch — now 76 days into the longest shutdown in U.S. history — owes over $300 million in unpaid obligations. And with thousands of utility bills overdue, totaling $5.2 million, duty stations and military housing worldwide are facing service shutdowns.” (CBS News: Coast Guard operating in “crisis” as DHS shutdown halts pay in May, cuts power, strains missions overseas – 4/30/26)
- Last October, National Guard “officers argue[d] the shutdown has been uniquely challenging for personnel across the country who have not been paid in the month of October if they are not on active duty. The Guard also voiced concern about the prolonged shutdown’s impact on readiness.” (The Daily Caller: ‘Not Good’: National Guard Training Grinds To Halt Amid Shutdown — With No Pay In Sight – 10/22/25)
- “One federal employee said she was dismayed to need to ask for help for the first time. ‘I’ve not been in this predicament ever. I served 21 years in the military. I’ve been a federal government employee for the past two years. The reason I wanted to become a federal government employee was stability. That stability, that rug, if you will, has been snatched away from us,’ she said.” (NBC News: Furloughed fed says she’s standing in Maryland food bank line after 21 years in military – 10/22/25)
- Shutdowns also do not work: Both shutdowns instigated by Democrats this Congress were stated attempts to achieve policy goals – and in both cases, Democrats failed to achieve any of their goals:
- Last fall, during Democrats’ full government shutdown, Democrats fought to repeal every health care reform in the Working Families Tax Cut law, including the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program and provisions that ensure noncitizens do not receive federal Medicaid benefits. They failed to do so. (Punchbowl News: AM: Dems, GOP dig in as shutdown nears – 9/18/25; U.S. Congress: H.R.1 – accessed 8/5/26; HuffPost: Knives Are Out For Chuck Schumer After Democrats Cave On Shutdown – 11/10/25)
- Earlier this year, Democrats attempted to defund ICE and Border Patrol, but Republicans passed the Secure America Act, ensuring ICE and Border Patrol are funded for the remainder of President Trump’s term. (U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs: Chairman Paul Releases HSGAC Portion of Reconciliation Text – 5/4/26; U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Updated Text of the Secure America Act – 6/3/26)