Washington — On Monday, August 3rd, 2026, the Senate moved forward with a plan to keep the federal government funded beyond the midterm elections, aiming to prevent another shutdown this fall. Senate appropriators unveiled a continuing resolution (CR) on Sunday that would maintain government funding at current levels, with some exceptions, through December.

This Senate measure contrasts with a separate stopgap funding bill approved by the House last month before its recess. The House's version, which funds the government into December, passed largely along party lines and faced opposition from Democrats.

Senate leaders emphasized a bipartisan approach, noting the chamber's 60-vote threshold for advancing legislation requires support from both parties. They are also coordinating with the White House on potential funding adjustments.

Patty Murray of Washington, the Senate's top Democratic appropriator, described the Senate's CR as a "much-improved CR to keep the government funded and avert a shutdown that no one wants." She highlighted that the Senate bill includes "important extensions and language that House Republicans' CR did not," and it rejects what she called "Trump's frivolous war spending wish list."

A key difference involves funding for Border Patrol. The Senate bill contains provisions to prevent the administration from reallocating funds from Customs and Border Protection to Border Patrol, an issue stemming from Democrats' earlier refusal to fund immigration enforcement agencies. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut expressed opposition to the House's stopgap measure because it did not include a provision to zero out funding for Border Patrol.

The Senate aims to approve the continuing resolution before its August recess later this week, starting with an initial procedural vote Monday evening.

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