ND North News

Senate Democrats voted against advancing the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act, halting progress on legislation that would have provided funding for service members, military readiness, and the defense industrial base. The bill’s consideration comes after Senate Democrats also blocked attempts to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government, according to a statement released Thursday.

Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee, commented on the outcome following his vote in favor of moving the bill forward.

“I wish I could say I’m surprised but unfortunately, this has become par for the course for Democrats. They are literally playing not just politics, but hardcore partisan politics with our national security. And of course, that means they’re playing politics with the wellbeing of our troops and their families that sacrifice so much for our freedom and frankly, freedom around the world. Holding the federal government hostage just for these partisan games is awful, it’s so reckless, there’s no way to defend it. Yet somehow, they and their friends and the mainstream media rationalize it. I don’t have much hope that they’re going to come to their senses anytime soon, but we just have to keep trying, keep fighting, keep putting up the bills to fund our government and fund our priorities. Maybe one of these days they’ll come around, maybe after their rowdy weekend with their left-wing nut jobs at the No Kings rallies across the country.”

The blocked appropriations bill was intended to fund military operations and provide a pay raise for U.S. service members. The impasse in the Senate has delayed these measures and left uncertainty about future defense funding.