Senate begins voting to advance bill to fund government

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced Friday afternoon that the Senate would begin voting immediately on a procedural motion to end debate on a House-passed bill to fund the government through Sept. 30.

After the Senate invokes cloture to end debate on the measure, senators will vote on four amendments sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Van Hollen’s amendment would eliminate the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Duckworth’s amendment would reinstate veterans who were fired from their federal jobs by the Trump administration.

Paul’s amendment would codify DOGE’s cuts to foreign aid, which were approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The three Democratic amendments will need 60 votes each to be adopted. The Paul amendment would need a simple majority to be adopted.