Congress is trying to pass yet another stopgap budget bill by Friday
The Senate is scrambling to pass yet another short-term spending bill that will keep the government funded through March 11 to avoid a shutdown Friday.
Existing funding is set to run out on Feb. 18, the day senators are aiming to vote on the so-called continuing resolution.
Since the previous CR, which was passed about two months ago, congressional lawmakers have failed to make substantive progress on what they believe should be included in a full-year appropriations bill.
They are now attempting to give themselves a few more weeks to figure out a 12-month spending plan, putting them roughly six months past their original deadline.
A full government spending bill hasn't been passed since 2020, and the needs of several significant government agencies – including the military – have changed considerably since the last budget was approved.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for the passage of a stopgap bill to avoid any "hint of a government shutdown." Last week, the House voted on the bill, so it is now entirely in the hands of the upper chamber.
As the process has dragged along, neither party has gestured toward actually getting to the point of a government shutdown. Though, this go around, there are six Republican senators who say they will stand in opposition to the expedited passage of the bill unless they get a vote to defund the remainder of the administration's vaccine mandates.
Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Mike Braun of Indiana, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Ted Cruz of Texas signed a letter indicating that they would not agree to a quick stopgap funding vote without a guaranteed vote on an amendment to defund the mandates.
Despite some jumpiness from his own party, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell was not sweating the heat on Tuesday when he addressed the possibility of a shutdown. "As is often the case, we'll process a few amendments before doing the short term CR. I think it'll all be worked out. There's no danger of a government shutdown," he said.