The US Senate squabbled through an overnight Saturday vote just to approve a short-term measure to fund federal agencies into early December and avoid a potentially chaotic government shutdown during the middle of campaign season. Lawmakers are still smarting from the two historic shutdowns that occurred this past year and want to avoid another before voters go to the polls. Senate Majority Leader John Thune wanted the funding dealt with before senators went home for the next five weeks to focus on their reelection campaigns.

Meanwhile at the same time across the Atlantic, the Dutch Government had a different set of priorities. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced an investment of €7.5 million annually over the next three years (totaling €22.5 million) to boost LGBTQ+ safety and inclusion. He unveiled the initiative on August 5, 2026, during the opening of the WorldPride Human Rights Conference in Amsterdam. 

Alongside the funding package, Jetten said the government will launch a public information campaign intended to challenge discrimination and online disinformation. Part of the investment will be used to expand support for Purple Friday, the annual initiative encouraging schools across the Netherlands to discuss LGBTQI+ inclusion. Organised by LGBTQ+ organisation COC since 2010, the campaign sees pupils and teachers wear purple as a sign of support.