Lawmakers Struggling With Another Shutdown
The U.S. Senate took a major step Monday toward keeping the federal government funded, advancing a sweeping spending package just weeks before a looming January 30 deadline that could trigger a partial government shutdown.
By an 80–13 margin, senators voted to move forward with a three-bill “minibus” appropriations package that already passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. The House approved the measure last week by a vote of 397–28, signaling broad agreement across party lines on the need to keep core government functions operating.
The legislation would fund several major areas of the federal government, including the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and Interior, along with energy and water projects and a range of science-related agencies.
Earlier Dispute Temporarily Stalled Progress
The Senate vote follows weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations after a similar spending effort stalled late last month. That delay stemmed from objections raised by two Colorado Democratic senators over concerns related to federal research funding and the future of a major atmospheric science center based in Boulder.
Those senators argued that previously approved funds should be spent as Congress intended, rather than redirected or withheld by federal budget officials.
“Our issues still haven’t been addressed,” one senator said after Monday’s vote, signaling that not all disagreements have been resolved.
Another senator emphasized that he is not seeking additional taxpayer dollars, but rather wants existing appropriations honored. “Just spend the money that was already approved for this fiscal year,” he said.
GOP Leadership Pushes to Keep Bill on Track
Despite lingering objections, Senate leadership has shown little appetite for altering the bill. Any changes would require sending the package back to the House, a move that could slow the process and increase the risk of a shutdown as the deadline approaches.
Senate leaders have indicated they believe there are enough votes to overcome procedural roadblocks and move the bill toward final passage. Another key vote is expected Tuesday, with leadership hoping to wrap up the process before the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.
Lawmakers are expected to spend the remainder of the week navigating the procedural steps required to bring the legislation to the finish line.
Lawmakers Praise Bipartisan Compromise
The chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee praised the bill as the result of months of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations, saying it reins in discretionary spending while focusing on what she described as the core priorities of everyday Americans.
Democrats on the committee argued the funding package would help families manage utility costs, improve access to clean drinking water, and reduce flooding risks in vulnerable communities.
Bigger Budget Battles Still Ahead
Congress must pass nine separate appropriations bills to fully fund the federal government before the January 30 deadline. If the current three-bill package is approved, lawmakers will still need to complete six more.
Over the weekend, Senate and House negotiators reached agreement on another two-bill package covering financial services, general government operations, national security programs, and the State Department.
However, two of the largest and most politically sensitive spending bills remain unresolved: the Defense budget and funding for the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.
Together, those two measures account for roughly two-thirds of the federal government’s annual discretionary budget, setting the stage for intense negotiations as the shutdown deadline draws closer.
