The U.S. Capitol building in Washington. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Friday passed a stopgap funding bill that averts a government shutdown and provides $6 billion in new spending for defense and another $6 billion for veterans’ health care through Sept. 30.
The 54-46 vote came two days after the vice chiefs of all the military services warned lawmakers that a temporary funding extension of last year’s funding levels, even with a $6 billion increase, will hurt readiness and slow modernization efforts.
Senators adopted the legislation, known as a continuing resolution, despite fierce resistance from Democrats, who argued it would give President Donald Trump’s administration wide latitude to continue dismantling the federal government.
Members of both parties said they were reluctant to vote for the spending measure due to the harm it would cause the military. This is the first time the Defense Department will operate under a full-year continuing resolution after lawmakers failed to agree on appropriations for fiscal 2025, which began Oct. 1.
“This is a shame on our process and it is not in keeping with what the founders intended,” said Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
He said the legislation does not provide adequate support for a military that is contending with multiple adversaries who are working together to “bring us ill.” But he said he would nonetheless support the bill because the alternative of a shutdown was “so unpalatable, so dangerous.”
The government would have shut down at midnight Friday had the measure failed.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on Thursday urged senators to pass a one-month continuing resolution to buy more time to hammer out a traditional appropriations bill, citing concerns in congressional testimony by senior service leaders earlier this week.
Adm. James Kilby, vice chief of naval operations, said the Navy will need to “make hard choices” this year due to the six-month stopgap measure and predicted slowed progress in shipbuilding, maintenance and fleet modernization.
Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, said the Space Force will face a “huge challenge” because it is the smallest force with the smallest budget. Several service leaders said they would be unable to start new contracts.
“Ultimately, the Army can afford a large, ready or modern force, but with the current budget, it cannot afford all three,” said Gen. James Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army. “Either we provide soldiers the capabilities needed to win or accept greater risks in other areas.”
The $6 billion increase in extra military funding included in the continuing resolution will bring total defense spending for the current fiscal year to about $847 billion, about $3 billion less than what defense budget planners had hoped for.
The additional money will fully cover a historic pay raise for junior enlisted troops, as well as weapons purchases and operations and maintenance. Another $6 billion is being allocated to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Toxic Exposures Fund to cover a budget shortfall.
An effort by Democrats to reinstate veteran federal employees who had been fired through billionaire Elon Musk’s government efficiency initiative failed in a 47-53 vote on Friday.
