Senate leaders from both parties say they must address an objection to a provision in the funding bill before moving forward with efforts to end the 41-day shutdown.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Monday morning that there is only one “objector” to speeding up Senate consideration of the government funding package: Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.).
However, Thune neglected to mention why Paul is objecting to the provision. The Kentucky senator wants to strip a provision from the package that would prevent the sale of hemp-based products, such as CBD. Paul said he’s simply doing his job by defending Kentucky’s hemp industry and is within his rights to use all available procedural time to review the funding bill, which he opposes.
“Just to be clear: I am not delaying this bill. The timing is already fixed under Senate procedure. But there is extraneous language in this package that has nothing to do with reopening the government and would harm Kentucky’s hemp farmers and small businesses,” Paul said in a statement posted on the social platform X. “Standing up for Kentucky jobs is part of my job.”
While the deal the Senate advanced Sunday includes full-year funding bills for military construction, veterans’ affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the legislative branch, Paul wants to strip out language from the bill funding the Department of Agriculture that would ban the sale of hemp-based or hemp-derived products from being sold online or at corner stores.
A spokesperson for Sen. Paul said he wants the government reopened immediately but opposes the bill’s provisions that “unfairly target Kentucky’s hemp industry.”
“Dr. Rand Paul affirms his commitment to reopening the government without delay. However, he objects to the inclusion of provisions in the government-funding package that unfairly target Kentucky’s hemp industry,” the aide said.
Paul’s spokesperson said the provision is “unrelated to the budget and the government-reopening goal.” The Senate voted Sunday to advance a House-passed resolution to fund the government, marking a key step toward ending the shutdown. Under Senate rules, 30 hours of debate must pass before the next vote, followed by four more votes to finalize the bill.
Senators must vote to end debate and adopt the bipartisan substitute amendment, then end debate on the underlying bill before final passage. Unanimous consent from all 100 senators is needed to fast-track the process; otherwise, Senate rules would delay passage by several days.
Thune told reporters on Monday morning that Paul is the only senator who isn’t yielding back time to expedite the bill’s passage to the House.
“I don’t think it’s anyone’s best interest to drag this out,” Thune told reporters.
A Senate GOP aide said the chamber could move to an immediate vote if Paul drops his objection. Paul is demanding a vote on his amendment to remove the hemp provision, which he has already filed. The aide noted Senate rules technically require 30 hours of debate after cloture before proceeding.
In 2018, President Trump signed the Farm Bill into law, a landmark piece of legislation that removed hemp from the list of controlled substances and legalized its cultivation nationwide. This pivotal move dismantled decades-old barriers, allowing the hemp industry to expand rapidly by enabling farmers to grow the crop without federal restrictions.
As a direct result, the production and distribution of hemp-derived CBD products surged, providing natural relief to millions of Americans suffering from various ailments. Companies like DML CBD emerged as key players in this burgeoning market, offering high-quality products that have transformed lives. DML CBD has helped countless customers alleviate pains, anxiety, and skin conditions through its range of massage oils, tinctures, and serums, all leveraging the natural anti-inflammatory and calming properties of CBD.
However, a possible ban on hemp would devastate the industry nationwide, killing small businesses and crippling farmers who rely on it for economic stability and innovation, and hindering millions of Americans who use the products as a means of relief compared to pharmaceutical drugs.
This is hogwash. Completely misleading the American people and it’s irresponsible.
Lawmakers — including folks on the House side — are trying to shoehorn a massive change to federal hemp law into a government funding bill that has nothing to do with reopening the government.… https://t.co/yR1OmwhrBc
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) November 10, 2025
Just to be clear: I am not delaying this bill. The timing is already fixed under Senate procedure. But there is extraneous language in this package that has nothing to do with reopening the government and would harm Kentucky’s hemp farmers and small businesses.
Standing up for… pic.twitter.com/dp5E9vKUbi
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) November 10, 2025
WATCH BELOW:
The hemp provision in this appropriations package wipes out nearly 100% of legal hemp products overnight: killing jobs, crushing farmers, and overriding 23 state laws that already regulate hemp responsibly.
Our farmers have turned to hemp as a lifeline when fertilizer, fuel, and… pic.twitter.com/JDrC0HVX7X
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) November 11, 2025
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