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Rough-and-tumble September

CQ Budget, Episode No. 360

Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen derailed the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill in a partisan standoff over a new FBI headquarters.
Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen derailed the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill in a partisan standoff over a new FBI headquarters. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
By Aidan Quigley and David Lerman
Posted August 4, 2025 at 4:25pm

The effort to avert a partial government shutdown next month could be uglier than usual after Congress left town for its August recess with partisan tensions at a fever pitch. As the Trump administration seeks to claw back funding, fights over Senate confirmations and the files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein all threaten to create a toxic brew that could derail the bipartisan appropriations process. CQ Roll Call’s Aidan Quigley and David Lerman outline the challenges facing Congress this fall.

Show Notes:

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