Congress returns to Washington, D.C., this week, with plans to finalize nine of the 12 annual appropriations bills (not included in the November 2025 agreement to reopen the government) before the Jan. 30 deadline. The House approved a conference agreement last week to fund the Departments of Commerce, Justice and Interior. House leaders are aiming to consolidate several other departments into one bill which would include Homeland Security (DHS), but its inclusion is facing resistance in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by a DHS agent.

House appropriators remain optimistic that an agreement will be reached before Jan. 30 to fund the Departments of Labor, Education and Health and Human Services. In addition to appropriations, a bipartisan group of senators and House members aim to reach a deal this week to extend expired Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies for two years.