Senate passes short-term bill to prevent a shutdown before the midterm elections

BREAKING NEWSAug. 8, 2026, 8:00 AM UTCGovernment ShutdownGovernment ShutdownSenate passes short-term bill to prevent a shutdown before the midterm electionsThe bipartisan measure would keep money flowing through Dec. 11. Neither party had an appetite to risk a shutdown ahead of November’s elections with voters in an anti-incumbency mood.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00The Senate passed a bill to keep the government funded through Dec. 11.Aaron Schwartz / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Sahil KapurWASHINGTON — The Senate voted 90-6 to pass a short-term funding bill to remove the threat of a government shutdown before the midterm elections.The legislation would keep federal funds flowing through Dec. 11 at existing levels to give time to negotiate a full-year deal.It was negotiated by the two parties and includes some modest add-ons, including a provision demanded by Democrats aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from blocking federal grants to blue states for political reasons.It also includes some adjustments to preserve the SNAP and WIC food programs, in addition to disaster relief and national security measures.The bill now goes to the House, which needs to approve it and send it to Trump to become law by Sept. 30 in order to avert a shutdown beginning Oct. 1.If so, it would prevent the sort of brinkmanship that has become common in Congress ahead of the fall deadline. There is a broad anti-incumbency mood in the electorate that has afflicted both parties during this primary season, and neither side wanted to risk a shutdown that could carry treacherous political consequences just before Election Day on Nov. 3.The House passed a different short-term government funding bill last month before leaving for the August recess. The Senate is also expected to adjourn for the month after wrapping up some lingering business.ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleSahil KapurSahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News...