The Senate Judiciary Committee just advanced the nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as United States Attorney General, in a 12-10, party-line vote, clearing the way for a vote on the Senate floor after Blanche reached a deal with two GOP holdouts on the $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), who are both exiting Congress at the end of the year, had raised objections to the fund, pushing Blanche to put in writing and sign an order Sunday formally rescinding the fund, appeasing the two Republicans and winning the support necessary to advance from the committee. It’s unclear how Blanche’s nomination may fare in the full Senate, where several key Republicans like Senators Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) have not said if they will back him. Others, including Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), who is exiting Congress at the end of the year; Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio), who is locked in a tight midterm race; and Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) have also declined to say how they plan to vote.
The Senate on Monday overwhelmingly advanced a stopgap funding bill aimed at avoiding a government shutdown ahead of this fall’s midterms. The chamber voted 89-4 to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to the legislative vehicle for the continuing resolution, overcoming the first big hurdle for the legislation. Senate leaders are hoping to pass the funding bill before leaving for a monthlong recess at the end of the week, which would require a bipartisan agreement to fast-track some steps in the process. The bill would keep the government funded largely at current levels through December 11th. It would also temporarily block the Trump administration’s proposal to give political appointees the final say over scientific grants — a big win for Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), who had pushed hard to block the rule, and for Democrats looking for ways to rein in the White House. The House would then have to take up the bill when it returns in September. The lower chamber last month passed its own continuing resolution but with a slightly shorter timeframe and none of the provisions the Senate added. Passage of the continuing resolution would give congressional leaders additional time to work out funding for fiscal 2027, which has been an uphill climb.
The Senate is expected to spend the rest of today considering H.R.6500, the continuing resolution.
