Thune says Republicans have resolved logjam on minibus with Trump's help

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday that he has moved a step closer to advancing the next round of spending bills after President Donald Trump helped Republicans resolve the logjam by talking to the party's last major holdout.

The president reportedly spoke with Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson on clearing a way for his Shutdown Fairness Act, in exchange for his lifting his block on the minibus, according to the Washington Examiner. He lifted his hold Wednesday afternoon. 

Johnson received a "vague commitment" on trying to pass his Shutdown Fairness Act, a source told the outlet, and Thune spoke to the senator and House Speaker Mike Johnson on the bill's prospect in the House. The legislation secures pay for federal workers if government funding lapses.

“There have been a lot of folks involved on that one,” Thune told the Washington Examiner. “I mean, the president’s spoken with him, I’ve spoken with him, the speaker — I’ve been on the phone with the speaker and Ron, so we’ve worked through some of the concerns and issues he had, and president’s engaged like he usually is,”

Thune is hoping to set up the next procedural vote on the minibus before the Senate breaks for the holidays this week, but the legislation would not be able to officially pass the chamber until January. There are still holdouts on the Democratic side.

“As of now, we’re clear on our side, and so hopefully there are enough Democrats that want to appropriate under regular order, which is, you know, what they always say they want to do,” Thune said.

Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee still has a block on the minibus but is expected to drop his hold now that Johnson has dropped his.

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