US: Senate GOP Cancels FY27 Markups, Risk Of Govt Shutdown Ticks Up

The risk of a US government shutdown in October has ticked up after Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) confirmed Monday that the panel has cancelled FY2027 markups for a second week in a row, amid a dispute with Democrat counterparts over topline spending numbers.   

• Collins said in a statement, “We are not proceeding with the Senate Appropriations Committee markup this week because Democratic committee leaders have made clear they are not willing to work with us to pass fiscal year 2027 Appropriations bills. Our subcommittees have made good progress on their bills and will continue their important work.”
• Top Senate Democrat appropriator Susan Collins (D-WA) said in response, “At every turn, I’ve worked in good faith to advance a bipartisan process… I cannot accept a lopsided topline that helps defense CEOs while families get left behind.”
• Punchbowl News reports, “Senate Democrats are unlikely to support any appropriations bills without an agreement on FY2027 toplines. [Murray said] she and Collins were still “miles apart” on a topline spending agreement despite trading offers over the weekend,” adding that, “Democrats won’t go along with President Donald Trump’s massive $1.5 trillion defense spending request without an increase for non-defense spending.”
• Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) warned that Democrats' belief that they will Congress next year is likely to trigger a shutdown: “They do not want appropriation bills. They do want to shut down the government, and they think they’re going to take the House and maybe the Senate and get a better deal.”