Senate fails to start debate on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 4016
OCT 16, 2025 · 1:36 PM ET
Party-line vote, except 3 Democrats and 1 Republican who crossed. 10 votes short of the 60 needed.
A yes on cloture only ends debate on whether to take up the bill. A no is not a vote against the bill itself.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →A yes on cloture only ends debate on whether to take up the bill. A no is not a vote against the bill itself.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →What the Senate was voting on
The Senate voted on whether to end debate on taking up H.R. 4016, which would provide FY2026 funding for Department of Defense military activities. The motion received 50 yes votes, 10 short of the 60 needed, so cloture was rejected.
End debate on whether to take up H.R. 4016.
Keep debating whether to take it up. Not a vote against the bill itself.
Funds Defense Department military activities for FY2026, including personnel, operations, equipment, research, and other programs.
Passed the House 221–209 on July 18, 2025. Now waiting in the Senate, 480 days after it was introduced.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
60 is three-fifths of the 100 senators sworn in. Cloture needs three-fifths of sworn senators, not of those voting.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
Party line, with 3 Democrats and 1 Republican crossing3 Democrats and 1 Republican crossed. It wasn’t enough.
Every vote on H.R. 4016, in both chambersPassed the House. Stalled in the Senate.
CHAMBER CONTRASTThe House passed it 221–209 on July 18, with 5 Democrats voting yes. The Senate failed to end debate on it 50–44 on Oct. 16, 10 short of the 60 needed, with 3 Democrats voting yes.
- JUN 16Reported by committeeREPORTED
- JUL 15#194Previous question on the rule (H.Res. 580)AGREED TO211–210
- JUL 15#195On the rule (H.Res. 580)FAILED196–223
- JUL 16#197Motion to reconsider the vote on the rule for H.R. 4016 and 3 other measuresAGREED TO215–211
- JUL 16#198On the rule (H.Res. 580)AGREED TO217–212
- JUL 18#211Motion to recommitFAILED211–219
- JUL 18#212On passagePASSED221–2095 Democrats voted yes
- OCT 14Cloture motion filedFILED
- OCT 16Cloture motion filedFILED
- OCT 16#575THIS VOTECloture on the motion to proceedFAILED50–4410 votes short of the 60 needed.
