Government funding hits a wall as senators point finger at other party

The process of funding the government is hitting a wall in the Senate, and lawmakers aren’t optimistic about finding a solution as a uniquely partisan Senate collides with an age-old problem: how much to spend on defense versus issues at home. 

The leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), both say they’re at an impasse because they have no agreement on a top-line number for fiscal 2027 spending. The committee canceled meetings to advance the spending bills for the second week in a row.

Members of both parties, meanwhile, are pointing the finger at each other. Democrats insist they won’t move forward without a top-line figure that balances out increased defense spending with money for domestic priorities, while Republicans are pushing to get bills moving without one to avoid a shutdown.

And the fight is taking place in the shadow of the midterm elections in November, which normally slow the legislative process but are also intensifying pressure for each party not to cave. 

“It’s difficult to get people to work with each other right now,” Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) told The Hill. “I don’t think that any of the Democrats are prepared to vote for the bills even though they helped craft them.” 

Democrats insist they need more clarity from Republican leaders and the White House on the total funding levels. 

“I respect and appreciate that there are two ready to be marked up where the allocations are pretty good, and the content is pretty good, but........

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