In an of defiance during the third week of the federal government shutdown, Senate Democrats on have blocked a House-passed bill that would have funded the Department of Defense for the remainder of fiscal year 2026.
The procedural vote required 60 votes to advance. It would have restored pay for military members and defense employees, including those involved in rescue operations in Western Alaska.
The Pentagon began tapping unused research accounts to cover the Oct. 15 payroll, a stopgap measure expected to run out soon.
Republicans brought the measure to the floor as part of an effort to blunt fallout of the shutdown, which began after Democrats refused to advance a GOP-backed Continuing Resolution without a renewed commitment to extend the expanded Obamacare premium tax credits to illegal immigrants.
