Gridlock crumbles as Senate advances spending bills in race against shutdown

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The Senate advanced a package of spending bills late Friday night, breaking a partisan gridlock that threatened to derail the government funding process.

Moving the three bills, including funding bills for military construction and Veterans' Affairs, agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the legislative branch, appeared on ice for much of the week as lawmaker after lawmaker on either side of the aisle looked to block the bills.

But a path forward was found, and the bills were put on the floor, and after several votes on amendments, the final package passed. However, the bill to fund the legislative branch was added to the package separately in response to a roadblock by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who ultimately relented to allow the bill to hit the floor. 

He announced his plan to vote against that piece of the package because the bill increased spending, like the others, but specifically for Congress. 

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"I just think we need to set an example, and when we're increasing our spending 6% and others less," Kennedy said on the Senate floor. "We're sending a message that we're special, and I don't think we are."

Now it heads to the House, where Republicans are already incensed that the Senate's bills go over their approved spending levels. 

The advancement of the bills is a victory for members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and for Republican leadership, who are working to ward off a possible government shutdown as tensions over the "big, beautiful bill" and President Donald Trump's $9 billion clawback package linger. It's also the first time since 2018 that the upper chamber passed spending bills before September. 

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"These bills all mean a great deal to each of us," Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, said on the Senate floor.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., previously threatened that if Republicans went through with the rescissions package, it would have grave effects on the forthcoming sprint to fund the government.

But, with the deadline to fund the government by Sept. 30 - or to pass a short-term funding extension - fast-approaching, neither party wants to carry the blame for blowing up the appropriations process, at least for now.

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While passing the spending package out of the upper chamber proved a bright spot, lawmakers are still looking for a path forward in confirming a slew of Trump's nominees.

The president re-upped his call for Senate Republican leadership to cancel recess to pass each nominee on the Senate's calendar, which has now ballooned to over 150 picks, as Democrats continue their blockade of the process.

Lawmakers are set to vote on a trio of nominees Friday night and are expected to run through nearly a dozen more over the weekend, unless a deal is made.