The Senate has finalized an agreement to take action on three fiscal 2026 spending bills, breaking a multi-day impasse that prevented the first government funding bills of the yearly appropriations cycle from coming to the floor. The move marks a critical step toward avoiding a government shutdown, as current funding is set to expire on September 30. Lawmakers are expected to seek a stopgap funding deal due to the delay in finalizing the 12 annual appropriations bills.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins proposed tying together the Military Construction-VA and Agriculture-FDA bills, with the congressional funding bill to be voted on separately. No senator objected to the agreement, and votes on the so-called minibus are expected to begin swiftly Friday afternoon. The package, while not expected to become law, will serve as a basis for future negotiations between the chambers and parties.
Collins emphasized that the three measures were approved with overwhelming bipartisan support, highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing critical funding needs. This is the second attempt in two days to assemble a package of spending bills, following an earlier failed effort to include the Commerce-Justice-Science measure, which was derailed by a single objection related to the FBI headquarters location.
The deal also sets up votes on a significant number of amendments offered by senators from both parties. The separate vote on congressional funding was requested by Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, who opposed the spending level in the $7.1 billion bill and sought the opportunity to vote against it independently. This development underscores the ongoing challenges and political considerations in securing government funding amidst broader policy debates.