(The Center Square) – As Democrats in the Senate repeatedly tank Republicans’ bill to reopen and extend funding for the federal government, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is adjusting his strategy.

Republican leaders are still refusing to grant Democrats’ health care policy ultimatums. But Thune is hoping he can garner enough bipartisan support to at least fund the Department of War.

A Senate procedural vote is scheduled for Thursday on the House-passed full-year appropriations bill for the DOW, formerly the Department of Defense. If passed, the bill would both assure that service members are paid during the government shutdown and also make slight progress in the regular appropriations process.

The Pentagon has already dipped into untapped research and development funds

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