Congress Extends Funding for Three Federal Agencies Ahead of Jan. 30 Shutdown Deadline

It appears Congress is on track to avoid another government shutdown on Jan. 30 after the passage of several bills that will continue funding for federal agencies.

On Thursday, Jan. 15, the Senate passed a three-bill package in an 82-15 vote that will fund the Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Commerce, Justice, and Interior through the end of the government’s fiscal year, Sept. 30. All three bills are now awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature. Additionally, the House of Representatives has already passed another spending package to fund the U.S. Treasury and State Department. Senators are expected to consider those bills when they resume session on Jan. 26.

Although the passage of those “minibus” bills represents progress toward full government funding, Democrats and Republicans are still negotiating in other areas. Still to be resolved are measures that would fund the departments of War, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Homeland Security. If lawmakers cannot agree on those appropriations by Jan. 30, they may be forced to extend funding temporarily or face a partial government shutdown of those agencies.

The Jan. 30 deadline stems from the previous government funding package, which was passed in November following the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, at 43 days. That spending package provided funding for most federal agencies through Jan. 30, with funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the legislative branch, Veterans Affairs, military construction, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through Sept. 30, 2026.