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Senate Majority Leader John Thune seeks bipartisan funding deal to avoid October government shutdown

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to finalize a bipartisan stopgap bill to keep federal agencies funded beyond the September 30 government shutdown deadline. The administration announced a plan to move funding and move away from the peer-review process for awarding billions of dollars in grants to state and local governments, community groups, and nonprofit organizations. While Democrats are open to a short-term spending measure to avoid a shutdown, they are demanding concessions on how the administration manages funding. Democrats have expressed frustration with the administration's recent admission in court that it canceled several approved grants solely based on the political identity of the state leaders. Republican senators, including Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, are also pushing to delay the administration's new grant regulation. They want to avoid a system where grants are awarded based on political connections rather than a standard peer-review process. Senate Majority Leader John Thune hopes to pass the measure next week, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Patty Murray are working to draft a final version of be the bill.

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