On Saturday the Senate began its August recess, with Republicans unable to overcome Senate Democrats blocking several of President Donald Trump’s nominees waiting on Senate confirmation. The White House and Senate Republicans are at a standstill with Senate Democrats, who demanded that Trump unfreeze funds being withheld by the Office of Management and Budget before they allow his nominees to get a confirmation vote on the Senate floor. The White House would not agree and has threatened to send another recissions package to Congress proposing further spending cuts.

The posturing sets up difficult government funding negotiations for September, with a government shutdown a real possibility. Funding expires on Sept. 30, the end of the government’s fiscal year, unless a deal is reached on FY 2026 appropriations or Congress agrees to a continuing resolution that would keep funding at current levels.