• Senate Republicans are racing to finalize a three-bill minibus before the August recess, aiming to fund the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and more. The effort reflects renewed attention to constitutional budgeting, bipartisan cooperation, and defense of institutional prerogatives ahead of a looming government shutdown deadline in September.

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — As the specter of a fall government shutdown looms ever larger, Senate Republicans are moving swiftly to finalize a three-bill appropriations package aimed at funding key federal departments and agencies before Congress leaves town for its August recess. The maneuver is a notable return to procedural seriousness after years of omnibus dysfunction and short-term funding gimmicks.

Aiming for Order Before Chaos

The package under consideration would deliver full-year funding for the Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Veterans Affairs (VA), Justice (DOJ), Commerce, and several science and infrastructure programs, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), rural development, and military construction.

The intent is clear: demonstrate functional governance ahead of a September sprint that could otherwise end in brinksmanship or shutdown.

“We have essentially resolved the holds that have to do with appropriations,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Appropriations Committee. “This is great progress.”

Republicans overcame two significant intraparty hurdles to advance the bill. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., had placed a hold over language that would have downgraded Fort Leonard Wood’s military hospital to a clinic — a move he deemed unacceptable given the facility’s rural importance and the investment it has already received.

“We’ve got a deal, I think,” Hawley said Tuesday. “There will be language in this bill now that will protect it … It’s a good outcome.”

The “Hemp Loophole” Debate

The second impasse came over a provision to tighten federal rules on hemp derivatives — language originally included to address a so-called “hemp loophole” in the 2018 farm bill. While Republicans, led by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., supported the measure, libertarian-leaning lawmakers like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., raised concerns about its unintended impact on farmers and processors.

“It’s a terrible way to regulate this thing,” Paul warned. “Right now, a lot of farmers start growing hemp, and if one of the plants is hot, they got to plow under all the plants.”

The language was ultimately stripped from the package, clearing the way for a united GOP push.

A spokesperson for McConnell confirmed the senator’s priority was “to pass all the appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year – and doesn’t want to hold up the process.”

Democrats Signal Cautious Optimism

While Senate Democrats have yet to formally endorse the measure, some signaled openness — pending revisions. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said Republicans have taken bipartisan steps that warrant goodwill in return.

“We have been demanding bipartisanship,” Schatz said Tuesday. “When they behave well, I think it’s on us to reward them.”

Other Democrats remain cautious, citing unresolved matters — especially regarding the FBI’s headquarters. Earlier committee disagreements over the Trump administration’s plan to keep the agency in Washington, D.C., rather than relocate to Maryland nearly derailed the entire funding track.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said Tuesday that “unresolved issues regarding the FBI headquarters” remain and that the ball is in “Republicans’ court.”

The contested language — favoring Trump’s position — was ultimately removed, diffusing a major source of friction and keeping the bipartisan effort intact for now.

More Than $250 Billion at Stake

The emerging package would allocate more than $250 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal year 2026, including:

  • $133 billion for the VA and military construction, with $114 billion directed toward VA medical care

  • $80 billion for DOJ, Commerce, and science agencies

  • $27 billion for the USDA, FDA, and rural development

These amounts reflect bipartisan consensus on national defense, law enforcement, and rural infrastructure — areas where ideological divisions tend to soften under shared priorities.

“I think a minibus [will happen],” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. “I think we’ll have that on the docket in the next day or two.”

Recess Appointments, Unlikely but Debated

Alongside appropriations, Senate Republicans are also weighing procedural tactics regarding nominations. Members raised the prospect of recess appointments to bypass Democrat-led confirmation delays, though the idea appears to lack sufficient institutional support and is procedurally stalled with the House already on recess.

“It’s frustrating to see qualified nominees held up indefinitely,” one GOP aide said. “But absent House cooperation, recess appointments are a non-starter.”

Still, Republicans hope to advance a slate of noncontroversial nominees before departing.

Can Republicans Stay on Track?

If the Senate passes the current minibus before August recess, it could shift momentum heading into September, where the remaining nine funding bills await resolution. The broader effort will test whether the chamber can maintain fiscal discipline without resorting to bloated omnibus packages or last-minute continuing resolutions.

Will Senate Democrats meet Republicans at the table — or gamble on another fiscal cliff this fall?

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