Storyline
Senate passes stopgap funding bill through December
Senate leaders finalized a bipartisan short-term spending bill to fund federal agencies through December 11, preventing a government shutdown during the midterm election season. The measure blocks certain Trump administration grant authority changes and excludes several White House-requested exceptions.
This is a long-running storyline that has developed over 6 days. The homepage highlights its most recent activity, so the outlet count there reflects the latest wave. The totals above cover the full run.
U.S. SenateTrump administrationHouse of RepresentativesFederal agencies
2026-08-08
- Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election
- Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election
- Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election
- Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election
- Senate embarks on recess after funding government and confirming Blanche, punting other priorities
- Senate passes funding bill to avert October shutdown
- Senate Passes Stopgap Bill to Avert Shutdown, Avoiding Skirmish Before Midterms
- Senate Passes Stopgap Bill to Avert Shutdown, Avoiding Skirmish Before Midterms
- Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election
- Senate passes stopgap funding bill to prevent shutdown ahead of midterms
- Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election
- Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election
- Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election
2026-08-04
2026-08-03
- Senate overwhelmingly advances stopgap funding bill aimed at preventing shutdown
- Senate easily advances stopgap funding deal past first hurdle
- Senate Moves Ahead on Bill to Avert a Shutdown
- Democrats blink as Schumer helps GOP clear key shutdown hurdle
- Democrats blink as Schumer helps GOP clear key shutdown hurdle
- Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law
- Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law
- Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law
- Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law
- Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law
- Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law
- Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law
- Senate’s stopgap funding bill rejects special requests for Trump battleship, munitions
- Senate strikes government funding deal that would avert September shutdown
- Capitol agenda: Senate stopgap sets up fall clash with House
- Senate reaches deal on funding bill, avoids shutdown
- Senate unveils spending bill that avoids shutdown before election
2026-08-02
- Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season
- Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season
- Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season
- Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season
- Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season
- Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season
- Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season
- Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season
- Senate finalizes funding patch that would block Trump’s grant overhaul