Lawmakers are discussing whether another short-term spending bill is necessary to avoid a government shutdown around Thanksgiving. While there is some movement on outstanding spending bills, House and Senate appropriations are still working off different top-level budget numbers for defense and nondefense spending.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said Wednesday that “unless a miracle happens around here with the House and the Senate, we will have to come forth with another CR” and predicted the stopgap might cover operations into February or March, according to CQ.
The House has passed 10 of 12 spending bills, including the defense appropriations bill. The Senate has not yet passed any spending bills.
Senate leaders are moving forward with a package of four spending bills that have bipartisan support. That package would not include the defense spending bill, which is still held up over disagreements on funding a southern border wall.
“I’m very concerned about the appropriations process,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said earlier this week, CQ reported.
DOD photo of Sen. Richard Shelby by Lisa Ferdinando