Senate Republicans abandon budget resolution vote, delaying reconciliation package

Senate Republicans abandoned plans on August 7, 2026, to vote on a budget resolution for a third reconciliation package, delaying the legislative effort until autumn. The decision came after a meeting in Senate Majority Leader John Thune's office and a call with President Donald Trump, who agreed to delay the vote to shore up support. The proposed $105 billion resolution includes $60 billion for defense, $12 billion for farm aid, and $20 billion for voter ID measures, falling short of Trump's requested $350 billion defense boost. Senate Budget Chairman Ron Johnson vowed to continue work in September.

Senate budget resolution vote cancellation

• ▪The decision to cancel the budget resolution vote on August 7, 2026, followed a meeting in Senate Majority Leader John Thune's office and a phone call with President Donald Trump
• ▪Senate Republicans abandoned plans on August 7, 2026, to hold a procedural vote on a budget resolution for a third reconciliation package

Republican vote shortage

• ▪Senate Republicans scrapped the planned August 7, 2026, budget resolution vote because they lacked the necessary votes to pass the measure
• ▪President Donald Trump agreed to delay the August 7, 2026, budget resolution vote to allow Senate Republicans more time to build support for the reconciliation effort

Third reconciliation package scope

• ▪Senate Budget Chairman Ron Johnson unveiled a budget resolution on August 7, 2026, designed to provide up to $105 billion for defense spending, farm aid, and voter ID measures
• ▪The Senate budget resolution proposed $60 billion for defense spending, $13 billion for intelligence, $12 billion in farm aid, and $20 billion for voter ID measures
• ▪The Senate budget resolution would instruct 11 committees to draft the reconciliation bill, compared to the House budget resolution which instructed only four committees

Trump defense spending request

• ▪President Donald Trump urged the Senate to make progress before the August recess on a reconciliation package to boost defense spending and require proof of citizenship to register to vote
• ▪The Trump administration requested $350 billion in defense spending through reconciliation as part of an overall $1.5 trillion defense funding proposal

Senate September timeline

• ▪The Senate prepared to leave for its August recess without taking action on the budget resolution, delaying the reconciliation package
• ▪Senate Budget Chairman Ron Johnson vowed to continue working on the budget resolution and reconciliation bill throughout August and September