Government Funding Stalls in Senate After Key Vote Fails; Divisive Foreign Policy, Judicial Votes Mark Active Week
Washington - Nov 7, 2025
While a procedural vote on a stopgap funding bill failed 54-44, the Senate confirmed two new federal judges. A separate effort to withdraw U.S. forces related to Venezuela was narrowly defeated, 49-51.
Government Funding in Limbo as Procedural Vote Fails
The primary focus of the Senate this week, a measure to fund the government, stalled after a key procedural vote failed on Tuesday, leaving the path to avoiding a shutdown unclear.
The chamber's main order of business was H.R. 5371, a bill from the House "making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026".1 This type of stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution, is necessary to keep federal agencies operating.
After resuming consideration of the motion to proceed to the bill on Monday 1, the Senate held a critical vote on Tuesday to invoke cloture, a procedural step to end debate and move toward a final vote.1 The motion failed by 54 yeas to 44 nays.1
This result does not mean the funding bill was defeated. Rather, the 54-vote majority in favor of advancing the bill fell short of the 60-vote supermajority required to overcome a filibuster. The 44-vote minority was sufficient to block the bill for now, creating a procedural stalemate.
Despite the failed vote, Senate leadership kept the funding measure as the pending order of business, with the chamber "continuing consideration" of the stalled motion on both Wednesday 1 and Thursday.1 This procedural tactic effectively occupies the Senate floor, blocking other contested legislation and serving as a visible, daily marker of the impasse as party leaders seek a compromise that can attract the 60 votes needed for passage.
The pressure on the Senate is amplified by the House of Representatives, which held only brief, three-minute "pro forma" sessions this week.1 Having already passed its version of the funding bill, the House has effectively left the responsibility to the Senate to find a solution.
Key Votes Reveal a Chamber Divided
While the funding bill remained in a procedural halt, the Senate's floor was marked by a series of sharp, divisive, and high-stakes votes on foreign policy and federal nominations.
Foreign Policy: War Powers Debate Narrowly Defeated
On Thursday, the chamber narrowly defeated an insurgent effort to pull a war powers resolution from the Committee on Foreign Relations directly to the floor for a vote.1 The measure, S.J. Res. 90, would "direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress".1
The "motion to discharge" the bill from committee, a procedure used to bypass committee leadership, failed on a razor-thin 49-yea to 51-nay vote.1 The 49-51 margin is significant; the near-even split suggests a deep, bipartisan division within the chamber over the scope of presidential war powers and the U.S. role in the region.
Judicial and Executive Confirmations: A Tale of Two Tracks
The Senate successfully confirmed three key presidential nominations, but the vote counts revealed a stark difference between judicial and executive appointments.
The chamber confirmed two lifetime appointments to U.S. Circuit Courts, both on largely partisan lines:
- Joshua D. Dunlap of Maine was confirmed on Tuesday to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit by 52 yeas to 46 nays.1
- Eric Chunyee Tung of California was confirmed on Wednesday to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit by 52 yeas to 45 nays.1 Debate on Mr. Tung's nomination had been closed by a 51-46 vote on Monday.1
In contrast, a high-level State Department nominee received a wider, bipartisan margin. Caleb Orr of Texas was confirmed as an Assistant Secretary of State (Economic and Business Affairs) by a 57-yea to 43-nay vote on Wednesday.1 The motion to end debate on his nomination had passed earlier by 57 to 41.1
This contrast illustrates a functional "confirmations machine" operating at two different speeds. While lifetime judicial posts remain contentious, the Senate showed an ability to muster a working bipartisan majority for key executive branch and diplomatic positions.
A Week of Key Senate Votes (November 4–6, 2025)
| Measure | Description | Vote Count (Yea-Nay) | Threshold | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.R. 5371 | Motion to advance government funding bill | 54–44 1 | 60 | Failed |
| S.J. Res. 90 | Motion to force floor vote on Venezuela hostilities resolution | 49–51 1 | 51 | Failed |
| Dunlap Nom. | Confirmation (U.S. Circuit Judge, 1st Circuit) | 52–46 1 | 51 | Confirmed |
| Tung Nom. | Confirmation (U.S. Circuit Judge, 9th Circuit) | 52–45 1 | 51 | Confirmed |
| Orr Nom. | Confirmation (Asst. Secretary of State) | 57–43 1 | 51 | Confirmed |
Amid Stalemate, Bipartisan Bills Quietly Pass
Away from the high-profile fights, the Senate quietly passed several bipartisan bills, demonstrating that legislative work continues on areas of consensus.
Lawmakers passed S. 1872, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, which directs the Commerce Department to study the feasibility of manufacturing products for critical infrastructure sectors domestically.1 Also passed was S. 503, the NET Act, which requires the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate how the telecommunications supply chain affects the deployment of universal service.1
The chamber also demonstrated broad unity by passing several resolutions by "unanimous consent," meaning no senator objected. These included resolutions:
- Honoring the 34th anniversary of North Macedonia's independence (S. Res. 399).1
- Recognizing the strategic importance of the "$C5+1$" diplomatic platform with Central Asian nations (S. Res. 459).1
- Designating "National Veterans Small Business Week" (S. Res. 482).1
- Designating October 2025 as "School Bus Safety Month" (S. Res. 484) and "National Military Toxic Exposures Awareness Month" (S. Res. 485).1
This activity highlights the "two Congresses" that often operate in parallel: a public-facing body defined by partisan gridlock over funding, and a less-visible, functional body that passes technical, consensus-driven legislation.
Behind the Scenes: Committees Tackle Healthcare, Education, and Veterans' Issues
This week's committee hearings and meetings offered a glimpse into the legislative pipeline, showing which issues are being prepared for future floor debates.
Focus on the Workforce and Economy
The Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held two hearings focused on the economy and education. One hearing on Wednesday examined "registered apprenticeship" programs with a focus on "scaling the workforce for the future".1 A second hearing on Thursday tackled the hot-button issue of "reforming financial transparency in higher education".1
Healthcare Policy in the Spotlight
Healthcare policy was a major focus for two separate committees. The Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on Wednesday to explore "how the Older Americans Act uplifts families living with aging-related diseases".1 Separately, on Thursday, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing titled "Assessing Obamacare" 1, signaling continued scrutiny of the Affordable Care Act.
Veterans and National Service
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing on Wednesday focused on "maximizing veteran's success after service," examining the transition from military to civilian life.1 The Committee on Indian Affairs also met to consider S. 107, a bill to amend the Lumbee Act of 1956.1
From Committee to the Floor: Bills in the Pipeline
Several committees also held "business meetings" to formally approve and advance bills and nominations. The Judiciary Committee, for example, favorably reported S. 1884, a bill to clarify the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act.1
The Agriculture Committee advanced the nominations for the Under Secretary for Food Safety, an Assistant Secretary, and the Inspector General at the Department of Agriculture.1 The Homeland Security Committee also advanced the nomination for the Administrator of General Services, along with three nominees for Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.1 These items now move to the full Senate calendar for future consideration.
A Quiet House and a Look Ahead
In stark contrast to the Senate's busy week, the House of Representatives was not in full session.1 However, procedural work continued. On Tuesday, the House filed committee reports for ten separate bills (H.R. 2478 through H.R. 5344) 1, largely related to financial services, banking regulations, and deposit insurance. This indicates a substantial legislative package is ready for floor action when the chamber returns.
The week also set the stage for future confirmation battles. On Thursday, the Senate received the nomination of Jared Isaacman, a commercial astronaut and entrepreneur, to be the next Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).1
Ultimately, the week concludes where it began. Despite confirming three key presidential nominees 1 and passing a slate of bipartisan bills 1, the Senate remains deadlocked on its most urgent task. The stopgap funding bill, and the effort to avert a government shutdown, is still six votes short of advancing 1, with no clear path forward as the weekend approaches.
Works cited
- CREC-2025-11-03-dailydigest.pdf
