Senate takes recess, leaving only five days to pass six govt funding bills

U.S. senators have left town for a week-long recess, leaving themselves only five days to pass the six remaining federal government funding bills.

Congress is already three months overdue on finishing the regular order appropriations process for fiscal year 2026, which consists of passing 12 full-year funding bills that allocate money for federal agencies.

Four of those massive bills, which are also the thorniest, have not even passed the lower chamber, though House leaders hope to advance them in a package next week while the Senate is off.

If they accomplish this, the Senate will likely pair the four-bill minibus with the two-bill minibus that passed the House Wednesday.

Senate Majority John Thune, R-S.D., believes it’s possible for the six bills to reach President Donald Trump’s desk by the Jan. 30 deadline, when government runs out.

If Congress fails to meet the deadline – which many, including the National Governors Association, anticipate – they...