US Congress advances continuing resolution to fund government through December

The Senate released a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) that would fund federal agencies at current appropriations levels, with a few exceptions, through Dec. 11. The measure passed 89‑4 and includes language delaying the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed rule on federal grantmaking. Senator Susan Collins (R‑ME) publicly criticized the rule and urged OMB Director Russell Vought to withdraw parts of it, while Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Patty Murray (D‑WA) said Democrats wanted the rule eliminated entirely.

The House also passed its own CR, a clean spending measure extending funding at current levels through Dec. 4, but it does not mention the OMB rule. All 12 House appropriations bills have been reported out of committee. The House will reconvene on Sept. 1, while the Senate remains in recess until Sept. 14. Lawmakers must reconcile the two bills and send a final version to the president for signature, with the Senate requiring at least 60 votes to pass spending measures.