Senate Democrats block defense spending bill amid federal shutdown

The Senate on Thursday failed to advance its full-year Defense appropriations bill that would fund the military for fiscal year 2026, amid the ongoing government shutdown.

The defense spending bill, which was part of the annual appropriations process, failed in a 50-44 split. Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire voted with Republicans to advance the bill, but it needed 60 votes to advance. 

“It’s always been unacceptable to Democrats to do the Defense bill without other bills that have so many things that are important to the American people in terms of health care, in terms of housing, in terms of safety,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters before the vote.

Several other Democratic senators indicated to The Hill that they were on the fence about the defense bill before the vote, and would have supported it if it was partnered with other appropriations bill like health funding. 

The legislation would have allocated $852 billion for defense spending in fiscal year 2026. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.