Congress Reaches Deal to Avert Government Shutdown

Spending bills to be advanced, with DHS funding extended for two weeks

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:23pm

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A deal has been reached in Congress to advance a major package of spending bills that would prevent a government shutdown of federal agencies starting on Saturday. The agreement also calls for splitting the Department of Homeland Security spending bill from the package and funding that agency for two more weeks at current levels.

Why it matters

Government shutdowns can have significant impacts on federal services, the economy, and public confidence. This deal allows Congress to avoid a disruptive shutdown and provides more time to finalize the full-year spending bills.

The details

The agreement was reached on Thursday between congressional leaders. It will allow the package of spending bills to advance, preventing the shutdown of various government agencies that was set to begin on Saturday. However, the Department of Homeland Security funding will be separated out and extended for two additional weeks at current levels to provide more time to finalize that specific bill.

  • The deal was reached on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
  • The government shutdown was set to begin on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Senate Democratic Leadership Aide

An unnamed source from the Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate who provided details on the agreement.

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What’s next

Congress will now work to finalize the full-year spending bills, with the Department of Homeland Security funding extended for an additional two weeks to provide more time.

The takeaway

This deal demonstrates Congress' ability to work across the aisle to avoid a disruptive government shutdown, though more work remains to pass the full-year spending bills.