Senate leaders and appropriators are trying to hash out a three- or four-bill package of FY2026 government funding bills, with the goal of reaching an agreement before the August recess.
Republicans have already resolved internal hangups on a minibus package that would combine Military Construction-Veterans’ Affairs, Agriculture and Commerce-Justice-Science.
Now, after Democratic leaders checked for holds on their side, leaders and appropriators are discussing the possibility of adding the Legislative Branch funding bill to the minibus. Democrats are pushing for its inclusion due in part to the boosted security funding for lawmakers.
One problem, though, has been Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). Kennedy said on Wednesday he’d continue to object to the Leg Branch bill being bundled with other funding legislation he supports. Kennedy was the only member of the Appropriations Committee to oppose the bill.
“I just want to vote no,” Kennedy said. “If they lump it together with two other budget bills that I’m for, it forces me to vote yes when I want to vote no. So I’ve objected and I’ll continue to object.”
Kennedy huddled with Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso off the Senate floor Wednesday night.
Shutdown showdown. It would be significant if senators strike a bipartisan deal before the recess, allowing for floor action when they return to Washington in September. It could give them an upper hand in any showdown with the House over FY2026 spending, since the House would be under pressure to accept a package that can already clear the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
“I am optimistic that we will get most of the bills — but not all of them — finished by Oct. 1 and into conference [with the House],” Collins said.
If the Senate Appropriations Committee advances both the Defense and Labor-HHS bills at its Thursday markup, the panel will have eight bills ready for floor action.
Senate GOP leaders are intent on passing as many appropriations bills as possible before the Sept. 30 deadline, and they desperately want to avoid a stopgap continuing resolution. The challenge would be convincing the House to take up those Senate-passed bipartisan bills in some form, which include spending levels that are much higher than those approved by House GOP appropriators.
If the two chambers are able to sync up on those bills, it could mean that a government shutdown — if Democrats force one — would only apply to certain departments and agencies. On the other hand, lawmakers could pass a CR to cover the remaining parts of the government.
