Senate Pushes Through Major Funding Bill Before August Break
Historic Senate Move—Funding Passed Before Recess
- On Friday, August 2, 2025, the U.S. Senate pulled off something rare: passing over $180 billion in federal funding for fiscal year 2026 right before everyone bailed for the August recess.
- The package got overwhelming support—87 senators voted yes, just 9 said no.
- First time since 2018 the Senate managed to pass funding this early.
What’s Actually in the Funding Package?
- This wasn’t just a “throw money and see what sticks” situation. They bundled three big appropriations bills into one:
- Veterans Affairs: $153 billion
- Agriculture Dept. & FDA: $27 billion
- Military Construction: $20 billion
- Legislative Branch: $7.1 billion
- Covers nearly 90% of all the stuff Congress gets to decide on each year.
- Direct impact on regular Americans and national security.
NIH Funding Drama—Congress Says No to Major Cuts
- Trump’s administration tried to cut the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget by 40% and smash its 27 institutes down to 8.
- Senate Appropriations Committee basically said, “Yeah, no,” and gave NIH a $400 million bump instead.
- This isn’t new—both parties have a history of blocking big cuts to science research. Nobody wants to be “that person” who tanks medical progress.
- White House tried freezing $15 billion in NIH 2025 funds, which threw the grant process into chaos.
- Fourteen Republican senators pushed back, and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya didn’t defend the cuts at Senate hearings.
- Senator Patty Murray told scientists, “Congress has your back.” Appropriations committees are still a roadblock to presidential power moves on research.
Bipartisan Support…But Don’t Get Too Cozy
- Sure, the funding passed with a huge bipartisan vote, but there’s still plenty of sniping.
- Schumer and Jeffries (Dem leaders) want a “bipartisan, bicameral” approach, but don’t trust Republicans after some last-minute money grabs.
- Senator Blumenthal called out Republicans for a “pattern of partisan betrayal.”
- Despite the drama, the Senate proved it can still get stuff done across party lines—at least when deadlines (and recess plans) are on the line.
The Takeaway
- Senate got its act together, passed major funding with both parties on board, and protected science dollars from massive cuts.
- Sure, everyone’s friends now, but when they come back from vacation? Expect the usual drama to pick up right where it left off.