US Senate Approves Government Funding Bill Post-Congressional Elections

The U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of Todd Blanche, former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, as Attorney General. The Senate approved Blanche’s nomination by a vote of 50 to 49. Blanche has recently been serving as acting Attorney General.

Meanwhile, the Senate approved legislation extending government funding through December 11 of next year, addressing the funding deadline more than a month before the scheduled expiration date of September 30, 2026.

According to CNN, this measure differs from the funding extension bill passed by the House of Representatives in several respects, including the exclusion of funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and Customs and Border Protection, as funding for these entities has already been provided through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. The Senate bill also imposes a temporary ban on a proposed administrative rule that critics warn would increase the politicization of federal grants.

As a result of these differences, the House of Representatives must approve the Senate-passed version of the bill to avoid another government shutdown ahead of the midterm congressional elections scheduled for November.