Senate approves funding measure through Dec 11, blocks White House control over grants

The US Senate voted 90-6 on August 8 to pass a short-term continuing resolution that keeps federal agencies funded at current levels through December 11, 2026. The measure also blocks the Trump administration from enforcing a controversial rule that would have given political appointees greater power over which federal grants get approved.

What’s in the bill

The continuing resolution maintains spending at existing levels while lawmakers attempt to negotiate full-year appropriations bills before the fiscal year ends on September 30.

The White House had been pushing a rule that would require federal grant approvals to align with presidential priorities, effectively letting political appointees act as gatekeepers for funding that flows to universities, state governments, nonprofits, and research institutions. The CR temporarily blocks enforcement of that rule until at least December.

The politics behind 90-6

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who led negotiations on the measure, has long positioned herself as a defender of institutional spending processes. Democratic Senator Patty Murray, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, also played a key role. The bipartisan dynamic reflected a shared interest in protecting congressional authority over the power of the purse.

Why the grant fight matters more than the shutdown

The administration’s proposed rule would have layered political considerations on top of the traditional merit-based grant approval process, requiring alignment with presidential priorities as a factor in approval decisions. Critics argued this would effectively politicize billions of dollars in funding. Supporters of the rule framed it as ensuring taxpayer money reflects the mandate voters gave the president.

The House version of the continuing resolution includes language that would prevent the reallocation of funds to border programs. That difference will need to be reconciled before anything reaches the president’s desk.

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