Senate fails to vote on funding bills after Lindsey Graham objection

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — The Senate failed to vote on funding legislation Thursday night after South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham reportedly objected.

Majority Leader John Thune was looking to quickly pass a package of five bills – through a process requiring unanimous agreement – to avoid a partial government shutdown beginning Saturday. Graham told reporters after a meeting with Thune that there wasn’t going to be a vote.

He was reportedly opposed to a provision in the legislation, which would fund a significant portion of the government, that prevents senators from seeking remedies for investigations into them. The funding package would repeal a law enabling Graham and several other senators to seek at least half a million dollars if their phone records were accessed without notification.

“I fixed the problem that people had. I’m not going to ignore what happened,” Graham told reporters, according to Punchbowl News’s Laura Weiss.

“If you were abused, you think you were abused, your phone records were illegally seized – you should have your day in court.”

Thune reportedly said as he left the Capitol that there were unresolved issues with both Republicans and Democrats.

“Hopefully by sometime tomorrow we’ll be in a better spot,” Politico quoted him saying. “Tomorrow’s another day, and hopefully people will be in a spirit to try and get this done tomorrow.”

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested that the blame lies with Republicans.

The Senate could vote on the package on Friday, but it’s unlikely the House will approve and send it to the White House before Saturday, when funding for many departments and agencies expires. House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated it would be difficult to bring lawmakers back from recess before Monday.

The legislation would fund the Departments of Defense, Treasury, Health and Human Services, State and others. The package previously included the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but Democrats reached a deal with President Donald Trump, who has engaged in negotiations, to exclude it. Funding for DHS, which includes ICE, the Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will instead be extended two weeks as Democrats and Republicans negotiate on some parts of the bill.

Democrats have pushed for changes to immigration enforcement’s tactics, including their use of masks and warrants.

Trump expressed hope in a social media post Thursday evening that Republicans and Democrats will “give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote.”

“The only thing that can slow our Country down is another long and damaging Government Shutdown,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay.”

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.