Senate Majority Leader Eyes ‘Bundled Breakthrough’
Published October 20, 2025
By AACOM Government Relations
Advocacy Appropriations Federal Policy OME Advocate
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) held a procedural vote Thursday on the House-passed Defense Appropriations bill. While Senate Republicans had initially explored advancing a bundled package combining the Defense, Labor-HHS-Education and Transportation-HUD bills, they ultimately opted to move forward with the Defense bill on its own.
- The cloture vote failed, 50-44, ten votes short of the 60 needed to advance. Senate Democrats largely opposed advancing the bill, arguing that lawmakers should first reach a bipartisan agreement to end the government shutdown before considering individual spending measures. Following the failed vote, the Senate adjourned until Monday.