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Republicans face an uphill battle to enact a third budget reconciliation package before the midterm elections, with the latest Senate budget resolution lacking enough support to advance.

The Senate Budget Committee released its FY 2027 budget resolution shortly before the August recess. The measure builds on a House-passed version approved in July but makes significant changes to the committees and spending levels involved.

The House resolution directed the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees to spend up to $73 billion on defense programs, the Agriculture Committee to spend up to $12 billion on farm assistance, and the House Administration Committee to spend up to $10 billion on state election security programs.

The Senate version maintains the $73 billion national security spending authority but removes the farm-aid instructions. More significantly, it expands the election-security provisions, directing nine additional committees to authorize up to a combined $85 billion in spending.

Republican leaders expanded both the number of committees and the potential spending level largely as a strategic move. The additional instructions are intended to provide flexibility if the Senate Parliamentarian determines that election-security provisions must originate in multiple committees to comply with reconciliation rules. Despite the $85 billion authorization, Republican leaders expect that any final reconciliation package would contain only a portion of that amount.

For now, however, the process is stalled. Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) declined to bring the budget resolution to the Senate floor before the August recess because Republicans do not currently have the 50 votes needed for passage. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Johnson (R-WI) plans to release a revised version after senators return later this month. That revision will likely reflect ongoing negotiations aimed at securing enough Republican support to move the measure forward.