Congress Rolls Out $174B Bill to Dodge Shutdown Chaos

Congressional leaders unveiled a $174 billion spending package Monday, racing to fund key agencies through fiscal 2026 and avoid another shutdown by Jan. 30.

Fresh off a brutal 43-day closure that hit federal workers and services hard, the bill merges three appropriations measures—for commerce-justice-science, energy-water, and interior-environment.

House Rules Committee meets Tuesday, with a floor vote eyed for Thursday, offering hope to fed-up Americans weary of lawmakers’ endless stalling that upends real lives.

Funding Breakdown Focuses on Core Priorities

The measure allocates $78 billion to Commerce and Justice, backing NASA, FBI, Marshals, and prisons for safety and innovation everyday folks rely on.

It sets aside $58 billion for energy, including $25 billion for nuclear security.

Another $38 billion aids Interior, EPA, Forest Service, and more, safeguarding resources communities need.

Over $3 billion in community projects—earmarks by another name—target local issues. Bipartisans tout it as cheaper than stopgaps, sidestepping a taxpayer-gouging omnibus mess.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris said, “We are still going through this minibus — but it appears to be in line with keeping this year’s discretionary spending below last year’s level — which is a good first step to actually lowering spending next year to control our runaway federal debt.”

Passage would clear half the 12 needed bills, easing the pain from Congress’s chronic delays.

Lawmakers Weigh In Amid Gridlock Frustrations

GOP and Dem leaders gave nods, but the saga underscores Capitol Hill’s dysfunction. House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole stated, “This bipartisan, bicameral package reflects steady progress toward completing FY26 funding responsibly. It invests in priorities crucial to the American people: making our communities safer, supporting affordable and reliable energy, and responsibly managing vital resources. It also delivers critical community projects nationwide, along with investments in water infrastructure, ports, and flood control that protect localities and keep commerce moving.”

Rep. Rosa DeLauro hailed it as “a forceful rejection of draconian cuts to public services proposed by the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress,” free of “Republican poison pill” provisions.

Speaker Mike Johnson called it a dodge of a “bloated omnibus bill” and “less than another continuing resolution.” Senate’s Chuck Schumer aims to finish by Jan. 30, saying “we want to get through the process.”

Sen. Patty Murray added, “Importantly, passing these bills will help ensure that Congress, not President Trump and Russ Vought, decides how taxpayer dollars are spent — by once again providing hundreds of detailed spending directives and reasserting congressional control over these incredibly important spending decisions.”

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