Overview

• As summer recess begins, Congress still lacks a full-year budget and is poised to rely on another continuing resolution to avert a shutdown.
• Republicans advanced President Trump’s tax-and-spending bill on party-line votes, cutting billions from public media and foreign aid.
• Senate Democrats have slowed confirmations by demanding roll call votes for Trump’s nominees rather than expediting them through voice votes.
• Republican leaders are weighing changes to Senate rules to speed up confirmations, and Democrats warn they may withhold votes on spending bills if procedures are altered.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have called for a return to regular-order, bipartisan appropriations processes before the next funding deadline.