Congress returns amid Venezuela operation and facing deadline to avert another government shutdown

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

January 5, 2026 / 6:00 AM EST


Washington — Lawmakers return to Washington this week, staring down an end-of-month deadline to avert another government shutdown. The next funding fight comes fresh off a revolt from moderate Republicans over rising health care costs, and as the conflict with Venezuela and frustration with the Justice Department's handling of the rollout of the Epstein files come to a head.

Funding the government is at the top of Congress' to-do list after a bruising 43-day shutdown that stretched from October through the first half of November. To end the longest shutdown in history, lawmakers approved a measure to fund parts of the government through the end of the fiscal year in September. Funding for the vast majority of agencies and programs, however, was temporarily extended until Jan. 30.

Congress risks a partial shutdown if it does not approve new funding or another short-term patch for the remaining portions of the government before the end of the month. And it has to balance that priority alongside other legislative battles.

Funding the government

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the top GOP appropriators in the Senate and House, announced an agreement on top-line spending for the remaining nine funding bills just before Christmas.



Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/congress-returns-government-shutdown-deadline-health-care-vote-venezuela/

[Bayard]

1. I hate this crap

Every time you turn around there's an imminent threat of a shutdown, and somehow Dems are always on the losing side.

Epstein!

[Buddyzbuddy]

2. How was Congress allowed to leave if this is so important?

If only there was a Speaker that used their power for good instead of evil. So much for being a "good" Christian.