$174B Spending Package To Avert Shutdown Clears Key Hurdle In Senate
The Republican-led U.S. Senate moved closer Thursday to averting another government shutdown, advancing a three-bill spending package that cleared its final procedural hurdle and set the stage for a decisive vote later in the day.
Lawmakers are under mounting pressure to keep the federal government operating after recently emerging from the longest shutdown in U.S. history. With a January 30 deadline looming, leaders in both parties are signaling a temporary truce on funding battles — at least for now.
Thursday’s initial vote served as a critical test of whether Washington could function beyond partisan warfare. Unlike the bitter standoff that paralyzed Congress in September, the measure advanced with overwhelming bipartisan support, indicating that Senate Republicans and Democrats have agreed to pause their funding fight to prevent immediate disruption.
The House approved the $174 billion spending package last week. The legislation funds several key areas of government, including agencies overseeing commerce, justice, science, energy and water development, and interior and environmental programs.
If approved in the final vote, the package will mark the sixth appropriations bill sent to President Donald J. Trump during his second term. Still, it represents only half of the twelve funding bills required to fully finance the federal government for the fiscal year.
With time running short, lawmakers across both parties increasingly acknowledge that a short-term continuing resolution (CR) may be unavoidable to prevent a shutdown. The main obstacle remains unresolved funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Senate Republican Leader John Thune suggested progress could still be made if the House advances additional appropriations bills, but he acknowledged that DHS funding presents the most significant challenge.
“That will be the hardest one for sure,” Thune said. “And I can’t predict what happens, but I think you have to, you know, reserve some optionality.”
Democrats have drawn a hard line on DHS funding following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, demanding new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Republicans, however, have made clear they are unlikely to accept limits on federal law enforcement authority, leaving the DHS bill stalled.
With the Senate preparing to recess for a week and return just ahead of the funding deadline, the standoff appears far from resolution. A year-long continuing resolution has also been rejected by Senate Democrats — a sign that Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus want full appropriations rather than indefinite delays.
Earlier this week, Schumer praised Democratic negotiators involved in the current package, framing the agreement as a counter to the Trump administration’s agenda.
“Their leadership stopped the worst of Donald Trump’s devastating cuts and protected investments that millions of Americans depend on, from education to housing to jobs,” Schumer said. “Though this isn’t the finish line, it’s a good step in the right direction.”
Beyond spending battles, the Senate has been unusually active on national security matters. On Tuesday, lawmakers voted to block a resolution that would have forced President Trump to seek congressional approval before taking additional military action involving Venezuela.
The measure, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, failed on a 51–50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The resolution sought to invoke the War Powers Act following recent U.S. military operations related to Venezuela.
Supporters argued Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority over the use of force, while Republicans countered that the United States is not engaged in sustained hostilities that would trigger the act’s requirements.
Senate GOP leaders said the administration has assured lawmakers there are no plans for expanded military action or deployment of U.S. ground troops. That assurance prompted two Republican senators — Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana — to reverse their earlier support for advancing the resolution after receiving personal guarantees from Secretary of State and former Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Their reversal allowed Republicans to maintain control of the Senate’s agenda and underscored the administration’s firm grip on foreign policy as President Trump continues to reassert executive authority abroad while pushing Congress to meet its basic obligation at home: keeping the government open.