The Senate on Friday is hoping to pass five of the final six fiscal 2026 bills — as well as a two-week funding patch for the Department of Homeland Security — to avoid a prolonged partial government shutdown.
The compromise funding deal comes after two days of bipartisan negotiations between senators and the White House, and it could lay the groundwork for final approval in the House in the coming days.
Senate leaders were hoping for a vote Thursday night, but objections to fast action remained, including from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who wants to protect a law allowing compensation for members whose phone records were collected by former special counsel Jack Smith. The spending deal would repeal that law.
“Hopefully by sometime tomorrow we’ll be in a better spot,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) late Thursday.
