The Senate blocked a bill on Oct. 16 to fund the War Department (formally known as the Defense Department) for the 2026 fiscal year amid the government shutdown.
The tally was 50–44. The bill failed to clear the 60-vote filibuster threshold to advance legislation.
The House of Representatives passed the bill in July.
The $831.5 billion measure includes a 3.8 percent pay raise for members of the military, $1.5 billion to improve military readiness, $500 million for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, and $500 million for missile defense programs in Israel.
Ahead of the vote, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) told reporters that he would not vote for it, accusing Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) of “playing games.”…
Senate Rejects Defense Spending Bill Amid Shutdown
