Senate passes short-term funding bill to avert shutdown

In a pre-dawn vote on Saturday, August 8, the U.S. Senate passed a short-term funding bill to keep the federal government operating and avert a shutdown just weeks before the November midterm elections. The legislation, approved by a vote of 90-6, would extend current funding levels through December 11, pushing the next fiscal deadline past Election Day.

The Senate's continuing resolution, which maintains spending at existing levels, is intended to provide lawmakers more time to negotiate full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2027. The government's current funding is set to expire on September 30, with a shutdown beginning on October 1 if no action is taken. The Senate's action does not yet finalize the process, as the Republican-led House of Representatives passed its own version of a stopgap bill last month that would fund the government only through December 4. The two chambers must now reconcile the differing expiration dates and produce identical legislation before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The Senate bill includes several policy provisions negotiated by lawmakers. A key measure, sought by Democrats, would prevent the Trump...