In a stunning display of doing the bare minimum, the Republican-controlled Senate managed to keep the government from shutting down on Monday, because nothing says "leadership" like kicking the can down the road until December. As Conservative Brief reported, senators voted a whopping 89 to 4 in favor of advancing a stopgap spending bill, clearing its first big procedural hurdle. How brave of them to agree that the government should, you know, function.
The measure would keep federal agencies funded at roughly current levels through December 11, which is political speak for "we'll deal with this later when nobody is watching." The bill also includes a provision that temporarily blocks a Trump administration proposal giving political appointees final say over scientific grant decisions, a priority for Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins of Maine. Apparently even Congress draws the line somewhere.
Now here's where things get spicy. Senate leaders are desperate to ram this through before lawmakers head off on their monthlong August vacation, because priorities. If it clears the Senate, the House gets to look at it when they stroll back in September. The House already passed its own version last month, but that one covers a shorter timeframe and lacks several Senate additions. So naturally, more negotiations await. Thrilling stuff.
Meanwhile, the SAVE America Act, which contains election security provisions like requiring proof of citizenship and government ID to vote, measures supported by over 80 percent of Americans, continues to collect dust. The bill has been a Trump priority for a full year now, but Majority Leader John Thune hasn't been able to wrangle the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster because Republicans hold a decent majority but not a supermajority.
Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota says Republicans are burning the weekend oil trying to restructure the SAVE Act so it can squeeze through budget reconciliation, which only requires 51 votes. He told Newsmax that the House budget resolution gives them a procedural pathway, assuming the voter ID provisions survive scrutiny from the Senate parliamentarian. Vice President JD Vance might need to show up for his tiebreaking vote to seal the deal, because apparently even popular legislation needs a Hail Mary in this Congress.
For context on just how dysfunctional the appropriations process has become, the Senate hasn't brought a single one of its 12 annual spending bills to the floor yet. The House has managed three out of twelve, but those face resistance from Senate Democrats. And the last time Congress actually passed a budget on schedule? That would be 1996, during Bill Clinton's first term. So basically, nobody currently serving in Congress has experienced what it feels like to do their job on time.
Congressional appropriators remain stuck in a standoff over discretionary spending levels for fiscal year 2027. So while everyone pats themselves on the back for not letting the government implode before midterms, the actual work of governing continues to be an afterthought. At least they're consistent.
Like what you see? Then sign up for our Free Newsletter
