Overview
- The Senate approved a bipartisan continuing resolution by a 90-6 vote on Saturday, Aug. 8, to fund the government through Dec. 11 and avert an immediate pre‑election shutdown.
- That short‑term bill freezes a proposed Office of Management and Budget rule that would give senior political appointees new oversight of discretionary grants and bars transfers of funds to Border Patrol.
- Senators confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a narrow 50-49 vote during the late‑night session and rejected a standalone federal photo‑ID measure by roughly 52-46.
- Republican leaders paused plans to use budget reconciliation to force passage of the White House‑backed SAVE America Act after late discussions with President Trump and key GOP senators, moving the fight to September and December floor days.
- The House must still approve the Senate text when Congress returns, which leaves lawmakers facing a compressed post‑election calendar for full appropriations and the contested policy fights over election rules and grantmaking power.