U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Stalls Spending Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown

Graham takes issue with provision revoking his ability to sue over special counsel probe

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:55am

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U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has put a hold on a spending package aimed at avoiding a federal government shutdown this weekend. Graham took issue with a provision in the bill that would revoke his ability to sue the government over special counsel Jack Smith's probe into former President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Why it matters

Graham's opposition to the spending bill has thrown a wrench into efforts to keep the government running, raising the prospect of a shutdown if a compromise cannot be reached. This highlights the partisan divisions in Congress and the challenges in passing must-pass legislation.

The details

The five-bill spending package would fund the federal government for a year, but only provide two weeks of funding for the Department of Homeland Security. In addition to the provision revoking Graham's ability to sue, he also took issue with the lack of long-term DHS funding. Without a spending plan, the federal government will shut down at midnight on Friday.

  • The spending package was backed by Democratic senators and President Trump on Thursday evening.
  • Graham halted the spending package from being fast-tracked on Thursday.
  • The federal government will shut down at midnight on Friday if Congress does not pass a spending plan.

The players

Lindsey Graham

U.S. Senator from South Carolina who has put a hold on the spending package.

Jack Smith

Special counsel investigating former President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader from South Dakota who said there was opposition to the spending package from both sides of the aisle.

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What they’re saying

“I want to make sure this never happens again. And how do you do that? Make people pay. I don't know if I win or not, but I'm going to pursue through the court system, remedies.”

— Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Graham's lawsuit against the government to proceed.

The takeaway

Graham's opposition to the spending bill highlights the partisan divisions in Congress and the challenges in passing must-pass legislation, even when there is bipartisan support. This could lead to a government shutdown if a compromise cannot be reached.