On Jan. 29, the Senate blocked a six-bill appropriations package (H.R. 7148) for FY 2026, with the procedural vote failing 45-55. The package includes the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill and provisions to extend several key health care and public health programs [refer to Washington Highlights, Jan. 23]. Lawmakers are continuing negotiations — including temporary funding for the Department of Homeland Security — to avert a partial government shutdown, which would begin at midnight on Jan. 30.
President Trump and Senate Democrats announced an agreement Jan. 29 to move forward with the spending bills, but as of press time, leaders were still tending to other issues from specific lawmakers. If the Senate is able to move forward with the agreement, the House will need to vote again on the revised package. The House is set to return to session next week; a weekend lapse in government funding may be eminent until both Chambers pass the same spending bills.