Tom Cole

Congress faces internal GOP tensions and bipartisan challenges over passing a government funding bill, risking a shutdown before midterms. House and Senate Republicans struggle to align on legislative priorities amid partisan gridlock.

The U.S. House approved a stopgap spending bill to keep the government funded until Dec. 4, passing it along party lines and sending it to the Senate for revisions. The measure aims to avoid a shutdown before the November midterms but faces opposition from Democrats over funding allocations, including transfers to the Border Patrol.

The U.S. House passed a stopgap spending bill to keep the government operational through December 4, avoiding a shutdown before the October 1 fiscal year start. The 220-205 vote was largely along party lines, with Republicans opposing Democratic requests for funding adjustments and reforms. The Senate is expected to revise the bill before finalizing it.

The U.S. House passed a stopgap spending bill to keep the government funded until December 4, avoiding a shutdown before the November midterms. The 220-205 vote was largely along party lines, with Republicans opposing Democratic demands for changes to funding for agencies like Homeland Security. The Senate plans to revise the bill, with bipartisan efforts underway.

The U.S. House approved a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown before the October 1 deadline, passing it along party lines. The bill, which extends funding through December 4, faces Senate revisions, as Democrats criticized its lack of requested funding adjustments for programs like wildfire suppression and rural utility assistance.

The U.S. House approved a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown before the November midterm elections, passing it along party lines. The bill extends government funding to December 4 but faces Senate revisions, with Democrats criticizing its provisions on Border Patrol funding and lack of emergency program adjustments requested by the White House.

The U.S. House passed a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown before the Oct. 1 fiscal year start, with a 220-205 party-line vote. The bill, which extends funding to Dec. 4, faces Senate revisions and lacks Democratic support. Republicans argue it avoids partisan disruptions, while Democrats oppose it for allowing Border Patrol funding without reforms.

The U.S. House approved a stopgap spending bill to keep the government operational through December 4, avoiding a shutdown before the November midterms. The measure, passed along party lines, will face revisions in the Senate, where bipartisan negotiations are anticipated to finalize funding before the Oct. 1 fiscal year start.

The House passed a temporary funding bill to keep the government operational through Dec. 4, avoiding a potential shutdown ahead of midterm elections. The party-line vote of 220-205 was driven by GOP leaders aiming to prevent voter dissatisfaction and prioritize a separate $95 billion defense and elections bill. Democrats criticized the measure as one-sided and lacking bipartisan negotiation.

The House passed a stopgap funding bill extending federal operations through December 4, avoiding a shutdown months ahead of the September 30 deadline. The 220-205 vote was largely along party lines, with Republicans aiming to pressure Democrats in the upcoming spending debate, while Democrats criticized the bill for lacking reforms to Border Patrol and ICE funding.

House Republicans are passing a government funding bill months early to avoid a potential shutdown during the midterm elections, aiming to fund agencies through Dec. 4. Democrats oppose the stopgap measure, which maintains current spending levels, arguing it lacks bipartisan negotiations and necessary provisions.

House Republicans are passing a government funding bill months early to avoid a potential shutdown during the midterm elections. The bill would fund the government through Dec. 4, with GOP leaders accusing Democrats of causing chaos if they oppose it. Democrats criticized the rushed process and lack of bipartisan negotiation.

Senate Republicans are considering a separate stopgap spending bill as House Republicans advance their own funding measure to keep the government operational until after the midterm elections. Senate Democrats and Republicans have discussed a Senate-specific stopgap bill with exceptions to avoid service disruptions, while House GOP leaders cite Senate delays as a reason to push their legislation. Senate Democratic leader Patty Murray expressed concerns about potential flaws in the House bill but acknowledged bipartisan efforts to explore alternatives.

House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole is heading to Camp David to discuss defense funding as the House GOP budget package of $73 billion falls short of Donald Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense spending proposal. The meeting includes GOP leaders and White House officials, but Trump was not in attendance.

Congressional Republicans face stalled legislative progress due to intraparty conflicts, tight margins, and President Trump's demands, leaving major bills like the defense policy and farm bill unfinished. House leaders have lost control of their chamber, and frustrations grow as deadlines pass without action.

House GOP hard-liners, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, continue threatening to block legislative business to force action on the stalled SAVE America Act. Speaker Mike Johnson attempted to attach the bill to the Pentagon funding measure, but hard-liners argue his efforts remain insufficient. Rep. Andy Harris and others demand stronger commitments on border security votes, creating uncertainty for procedural measures.

Sens. Susan Collins and Patty Murray, previously collaborative bipartisan partners on Senate Appropriations Committee funding bills, are now publicly feuding over spending measures. Collins faces criticism for aligning with a record military budget request, while Murray is accused of delaying negotiations ahead of the November elections. The conflict risks delaying funding decisions until after the elections.

The White House requested $87.6 billion from Congress to fund the war against Iran, replenish munitions, support farmers, address the Ebola outbreak, and cover D.C. renovations. Lawmakers expressed mixed reactions, with Republicans emphasizing military readiness and Democrats criticizing the war funding as unauthorized and excessive.

Tom Cole won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House in Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District. The Associated Press reported the outcome.

Republicans passed a party-line bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies through 2029, but this action does not reduce the risk of a government shutdown for other agencies. Both parties acknowledge the likelihood of a funding lapse remains unchanged or increased, with concerns over bypassing normal appropriations processes and potential future conflicts over funding priorities.

Congress approved a $70 billion funding package for the Department of Homeland Security over three years to support mass deportation efforts. The House passed the reconciliation bill 214 to 212, and the Senate approved it 52 to 47. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Tim Walberg were notable dissenting Republicans.

House Democrats criticized a draft Republican Department of Homeland Security spending bill that would reduce Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) funding by $250 million. Republicans defended the bill, stating it provides $2.4 billion for CISA and includes strategic reductions to redundant programs. The bill is set for a subcommittee vote Friday.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) expressed regret over the dismissal of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, calling it a 'real loss' for the military during a hearing with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

The Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) has outlined its fiscal 2027 budget priorities in a letter sent to House Appropriations Committee leaders. The letter comes days after the White House released its own budget proposals, emphasizing key appropriations requests.