Senate Democrats block defense spending bill

A majority of Senate Democrats made it clear today they want to deal with the ongoing government shutdown before considering new spending packages, blocking a key vote to advance a defense appropriations bill.

The vote failed 50-44, with three Democrats voting with Republicans in favor: Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Fetterman (D-PA) and Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV).

Along with defense, the spending bill included appropriations for labor, health and education programs.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, said on the floor that he could not support the bill given the current dysfunction in the federal government, referencing the ongoing shutdown and the White House’s attempts to rescind spending already approved by Congress.

"Bluntly, the process here in this Senate, the process with our president, the process of spending or not spending appropriated funds has destroyed a lot of the trust that is essential for the Senate as a body to work, for the Congress to legislate, for our federal government to reopen,” he said.

Though the chamber was considering a defense spending bill today that had already been passed by the House, Senate leadership would likely have substituted their own bipartisan measure had the vote been successful.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who chairs the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, blamed Democrats for continuing to block funding for the Pentagon by opposing a bill that has bipartisan support.

“Last week, the Senate passed a National Defense Authorization Act that raised the defense topline by more than $30 billion to meet these growing threats,” he said. “However, without appropriated dollars, such an authorization only grows the gap between our rhetoric and our action.”

The vote failed shortly after Democrats also rejected a stopgap continuing resolution that would have temporarily ended the shutdown. Democrats assert that they will not vote to reopen the government until the White House and congressional Republicans negotiate with them on extending investments in healthcare subsidies.

Meanwhile, President Trump has ordered the Defense Department to redirect $8 billion in research and development funds to pay U.S. troops.