Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season

Senate leaders unveiled a short-term spending bill Sunday, designed to keep federal agencies funded past the midterm elections and into early December. The move aims to prevent a government shutdown during a critical campaign season.

The bill generally maintains current funding levels until Dec. 11. While the House passed a similar measure, it lacked certain exceptions requested by the White House. Senators have been negotiating these exceptions, with Democrats successfully excluding a $1 billion request for "Trump-class" battleships and ensuring funds cannot be diverted to the Border Patrol.

This proactive approach, two months before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, is unusual. Typically, Congress waits until the final days to pass short-term extensions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized avoiding a third government shutdown, citing public dissatisfaction after two recent record-breaking shutdowns. Both parties aim to steer clear of blame, as past shutdowns have negatively impacted both Democrats and Republicans.

Negotiations for full-year appropriations bills remain challenging, with Republicans pushing for increased defense spending and cuts to non-defense programs. Democrats, meanwhile, sought to extend an expiring health insurance tax credit, a priority that Republicans deemed a separate policy fight. The need for a short-term extension arises from Congress's struggle to pass the dozen annual appropriations bills by the Sept. 30 deadline.

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We need to ensure that they do not face a third.