Senate Spending Stalled as Collins, Democrats Clash Over Defense Budget, June 09

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins called off spending bill markups for the second week in a row on June 9, citing Democratic refusal to negotiate government funding. Collins and Senate Democratic appropriator Patty Murray have been trading offers on overall funding totals for military and nondefense programs for the fiscal year starting October 1. An agreement remains out of reach, with Democrats demanding a topline agreement on the balance between defense and domestic spending before moving forward.

Collins Accuses Democrats of Blocking Negotiations

Collins said in a statement Monday night that top Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee “have made clear they are not willing to work with us to pass” government funding bills. She added that “their insistence that it is not possible to move forward without a topline agreement is not accurate.” The partisan stalemate stalls Senate funding action with a September shutdown deadline looming.

Defense Spending Remains Central Dispute

Democrats refuse to move forward until there is an understanding on the balance between defense and domestic spending in the face of President Donald Trump’s request for $1.5 trillion for the military. Collins and Murray have been exchanging offers on overall funding totals, but the gap between their positions has prevented any breakthrough. The fiscal year begins October 1, leaving Congress limited time to reach a deal.

House Passes Immigration Funding Bill

Meanwhile, the House cleared a $70 billion reconciliation package on June 9 to fund immigration enforcement agencies through the remainder of Trump’s term. The House passed the bill 214-212, mostly along party lines, after the Senate approved it last week. Republicans used the filibuster-proof reconciliation process to bypass Democratic opposition to funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol without new policy restrictions.

Final Thoughts

Collins and Democrats remain deadlocked over defense spending levels, blocking progress on government funding bills with a September shutdown deadline approaching. Without a deal on the balance between military and domestic spending, Congress faces another funding crisis.

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