Congressional appropriators already anticipate needing some short-term funding bills at the end of January, and are especially doubtful Congress will come to an agreement on Department of Homeland Security funding.
Both chambers recently passed three appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026 alongside a continuing resolution to extend government funding through Jan. 30. The Senate left this week without accomplishing Republican leadership’s goal of teeing up the defense appropriations bill — or any of the five appropriations bills that have been approved by the full committee for months.
Getting that package ready is the next “challenge,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Wednesday, adding that they’re working through holds.