Washington, D.C., January 16, 2026 – The United States Senate approved a package of three fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills on Thursday by a strong bipartisan margin of 82-15, marking a significant step toward averting a partial government shutdown before the January 30 funding deadline. The legislation, which covers the Departments of Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS), Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment, now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature after the House of Representatives passed the same measure last Thursday in an overwhelming 397-28 vote.
The package, formally known as H.R. 6938, combines funding for critical federal agencies and programs that support scientific research, law enforcement, energy infrastructure, environmental protection, and public lands management. Senate passage came after weeks of negotiations between Democratic and Republican appropriators, who crafted the bills to reflect a compromise that largely preserves current funding levels while incorporating some targeted increases and adjustments demanded by both parties.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hailed the vote as a victory for American families and communities. “Today, we sent funding bills to the president’s desk that reject the steep cuts he wanted and protect investments that families across America depend on every day,” Murray said in a statement following the vote. She highlighted several key protections preserved in the package:
- Continued funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills during extreme weather.
- Sustained investments in scientific research through the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH)-related programs under Commerce, Justice, and Science, and basic energy research at the Department of Energy.
- Robust support for the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and other agencies under the Interior and Environment title, ensuring maintenance of public lands, wildlife conservation, and environmental monitoring.
The bills also include funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather forecasting and climate programs, the FBI and federal law enforcement initiatives, judicial branch operations, and water infrastructure projects under the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation.
The Senate’s 82-15 vote reflected broad bipartisan support, with 47 Democrats, 34 Republicans, and one Independent joining the majority. The 15 “no” votes came primarily from conservative Republicans who argued the bills did not go far enough in reducing federal spending or implementing policy riders favored by the Trump administration. Among those opposing were Sens. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and several members of the Senate Freedom Caucus, who had pushed for deeper cuts to non-defense discretionary spending.
The passage of this first minibus of appropriations bills represents the midpoint in Congress’s effort to complete the full fiscal year 2026 funding process. When the Senate reconvenes next week, lawmakers will turn their attention to the remaining six appropriations bills, which cover Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Financial Services, Transportation-HUD, Agriculture, and Homeland Security. The current continuing resolution (CR) expires on January 30, 2026, at which point funding for roughly 75% of the federal government would lapse absent further action.
The House of Representatives advanced its portion of the work earlier this week. On Wednesday, January 14, the lower chamber passed a separate package that included two additional appropriations bills (Agriculture and Financial Services) by a strong majority. That package is expected to be taken up by the Senate in the coming days, potentially as part of a larger consolidated minibus.
Congressional leaders from both parties have expressed cautious optimism about meeting the deadline. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ranking Member Murray have repeatedly emphasized the importance of regular order and bipartisan negotiation, contrasting the current approach with the chaotic shutdown threats of previous years. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has also signaled support for moving forward with the remaining bills, though conservative factions in the House continue to press for spending reductions and policy provisions, including restrictions on certain diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
President Trump has yet to comment publicly on the specific provisions of H.R. 6938, though his administration had initially proposed significant reductions in non-defense discretionary spending for fiscal 2026—cuts that appropriators largely rejected in favor of maintaining or modestly increasing key accounts. White House officials have indicated the president is reviewing the bills and will sign them into law, with the administration praising the inclusion of funding for border security enhancements under the Commerce, Justice, Science title.
The fiscal year 2026 appropriations process has proceeded more smoothly than anticipated following the narrow Republican majority in the House and the closely divided Senate. The bipartisan framework reflects a pragmatic effort to avoid a government shutdown during the early months of the Trump administration’s second term, especially as attention shifts toward broader priorities such as tax policy, immigration enforcement, and foreign aid.
Analysts note that the current package represents a continuation of the spending levels established under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, with adjustments for inflation and emerging priorities. Once signed, the three bills will fund agencies through September 30, 2026, providing stability to thousands of federal employees, contractors, and grant recipients.
As lawmakers prepare for the next phase of negotiations, the focus will remain on balancing fiscal restraint with investments in public safety, scientific innovation, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship. The successful passage of this first tranche of bills is seen as a positive signal that Congress can deliver on its constitutional duty to fund the government despite deep policy differences.
With less than two weeks until the funding deadline, congressional appropriators will work to complete the remaining bills, ensuring uninterrupted federal operations and continued support for programs that impact millions of Americans.
