Senate nears 'minibus' deal to largely fund government, thwarting shutdown threat

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

12/18/25 4:33 PM ET


Senate leaders are nearing a deal to pass a package of five appropriations bills that would fund most of the federal government through fiscal 2026, which has the potential to largely take the threat of a government shutdown off the table early next year.

Senators were waiting Thursday afternoon for a deal to set up votes on a series of amendments to the so-called minibus, which would fund the departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Commerce, Justice, Interior, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development.

Senators on the Appropriations Committee estimate that if the five-bill package becomes law, it would fund roughly 85 percent to 90 percent of the federal government and eliminate the threat of a government shutdown in February.

The House would also have to agree to the package, as would President Trump. Much of the government will shut down Feb. 1 without a new funding bill.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5655795-appropriations-bill-package-2026/

[lapfog_1]

1. so the argument that IF we didn't get an agreement to fund

the ACA subsidies we could always shutdown the government again was, apparently, an empty threat.

Sigh

[Deminpenn]

2. That was always unrealistic. No one wants another shutdown

just a few months after the last one.

And, FTR, there will be a vote on ACA tax credit extention when Congress returns that was forced by the House D initiated discharge petition that was recently signed onto by 4 Rs (3 of whom of are PA reps terrified of losing their seats).
I will not be least the surprised if this follows the same arc as the Epstein files discharge petition. It might not be as near unanimous as that vote, but I'd bet it will pass with a significant majority and then pass the Senate under unanimous consent and be signed by Trump.