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Shutdown Updates

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Negotiations continue to intensify between the White House and Senate Democrats as they attempt to reach a last-minute agreement over how to advance the remaining appropriations bills.

During a 45-55 test vote this morning, Democrats voted to block the package, as they continue to push for an agreement to separate Homeland Security from the rest of the legislation, allowing them to approve the five other bills which would fund the majority of the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year. A handful of Republicans also opposed the package, citing various spending objections.

The list of demands from Senate Democrats include ending roving patrols, requiring body cameras, preventing agents from wearing masks, and requiring them to work more closely with local law enforcement.

A partial government shutdown beginning at midnight on Friday is now almost certain.

Partial government shutdown looms

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The likelihood of a partial government shutdown has increased, as Senate Democrats face pressure to block Department of Homeland Security funding following the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis this month. Congress has until January 30 to pass a spending resolution, to avoid shutting down large portions of the government.  

On January 22, the House sent the $1.2 trillion appropriations package to the Senate, which included roughly $10 billion for ICE (full details are in the previous blog post). The DHS funding bill received a separate vote in the House, narrowly passing by a vote of 220-207. Only seven Democrats voted in favor, as public pressure mounts to rein in ICE following large-scale protests in Minnesota.  

The package seemed poised to pass the Senate with at least 60 votes, but following the shooting of Alex Pretti on January 24, Senate Democrats have vowed they will not fund DHS without new guardrails.  

Weather-related disruptions from the winter storm have complicated matters; the Senate vote scheduled for January 26 has been rescheduled until at least January 27. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer hopes to separate the DHS bill from the rest of the measures, which have overwhelming bipartisan support. However, even if Senate Democrats can convince Republicans to separate it, the legislation would need approval again in the House, which is on recess until February 2. All this points towards a likely shutdown beginning Friday. 

Unlike the last government shutdown, many government operations would remain operational. Congress has already passed six out of the 12 full-year appropriations bills, which have been signed into law by President Trump. This includes funding for the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Agriculture, Interior, Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch.  

More details to come. 

Senator Murray visits UW, celebrating $10M federal funding for AI research

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On Friday, Senator Patty Murray visited the UW’s eScience Institute to speak with students about how they are harnessing AI in their research. Senator Murray recently secured $10 million in federal funding for the UW to expand its secure computing and data infrastructure for AI research. This funding, part of the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill, will support Tillicum, the UW’s next-generation computing platform which launched in October.

“If you don’t have the computers, if you don’t have the basic infrastructure, you’re stymied,” Murray said in an interview with GeekWire. “So this benefits everybody — whether it’s creating jobs, whether it’s creating better healthcare, whether it’s creating more innovators who come here to Washington state to be able to create jobs for the future and make a better way of life for all of us.”

Read more about the visit here.

Student presents research to Senator Murray, standing in front of a laptop and whiteboard.

President Jones and Senator Murray stand with students in front of eSciences studio.

Photo Credit: Kate Rich

The End is in Sight

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The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is poised to end, with the House of Representatives scheduled to reconvene at approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday to vote on a funding bill passed by the Senate earlier this week.

The Senate measure advanced with the support of all Republican senators and a group of eight Democrats, a move that has sparked intense backlash from progressive activists and deepened divisions within the Democratic caucus. While the bipartisan support helped propel the bill forward procedurally, most Senate Democrats remain staunchly opposed to the package, citing concerns over spending priorities and the exclusion of key Democratic provisions.

In the House, the funding bill faces similar resistance from Democratic lawmakers. Despite this, Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed confidence that the measure will garner sufficient Republican support to pass, effectively ending the shutdown that has paralyzed federal operations for weeks.

The proposed legislation includes a short-term extension of funding for most federal agencies through January 30, 2026, providing a temporary reprieve while negotiations continue on broader appropriations. In addition to the stopgap funding, the package incorporates three full-year appropriations bills covering:

  • Military Construction and Veterans Affairs: Ensuring continued support for infrastructure projects and essential services for veterans.
  • Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Funding critical programs related to food safety, rural development, and agricultural subsidies.
  • Legislative Branch Operations: Maintaining the functioning of Congress and its support agencies, including staff salaries and administrative services.

House Democrats are expected to introduce an amendment aimed at extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits for an additional three years—a provision that has broad support among the party’s base. However, the amendment is unlikely to pass given the Republican opposition.