Senate GOP prepares to move first funding package
GOP lawmakers are discussing packaging together up to four bills, though the size of that package could shrink if including a certain bill could threaten to bog down the chamber's ability to pass it. Leaders could, for instance, decide against including the fiscal 2026 bill to fund the departments of Commerce and Justice, which has been plagued by intraparty squabbling over an amendment that would bar funds for relocating FBI headquarters.
'I hope we get a four-bill package pulled together and get to the floor next week,' said Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), a leadership ally and member of the Appropriations Committee, adding that he believes there is a 'good chance' that this will happen.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune hasn't made a decision about whether or not to start moving the first government funding bill on the floor next week, but wants to get one funding package across the finish line before the chamber leaves for the August recess that is scheduled to begin in early August.
Asked about next week's schedule, Thune indicated to reporters that, in addition to confirming more of President Donald Trump's nominees, Republicans are looking at either getting the ball rolling on the annual defense authorization bill or moving government funding legislation.
In addition to the measure to fund Commerce and Justice, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved three other bills funding the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the legislative branch.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) has stressed wanting to focus on moving bipartisan funding bills and has a good relationship with Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the panel. Thune, on Thursday, also said that 'we plan to move approps bills that will have cooperation from the Democrats.'
Collins on Thursday told reporters it was up to Thune about how to proceed but that she would like to see the first so-called minibus of spending measures on the floor before August recess.
Still, Congress is expected to need a short-term funding patch to keep the government open past the end of September. And Democrats are actively worried that Senate Republicans will be pressured by the administration and the House to set aside the appropriations process and either fund the government entirely through stopgap measures and pass more party-line spending cuts like those included in the rescissions bill the Senate advanced early Thursday morning.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, acknowledged that an appropriations package could come to the floor as soon as next week, but suggested it was largely a waste of time.
'There is no approps process, it's as dead as Jimmy Hoffa,' Kennedy said. 'The Appropriations Committee has been a pointless exercise for a while, everybody knows that. Nobody wants to admit it.'
Jennifer Scholtes contributed to this report.
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