USA Important hurdle: US Senate approves budget
Republicans and Democrats in the US Senate have overcome an important hurdle in resolving a dispute over the funding of US government operations.
31.01.2026, 02:21
31.01.2026, 02:22
SDA
The House of Representatives passed a legislative package with a bipartisan majority to fund several government departments and agencies. Nevertheless, there is likely to be a partial standstill in government operations, at least in the short term.
The so-called shutdown is expected to come into force on Saturday night (from 6.00 CET), as the current transitional budget will then expire and the follow-up funding will not yet be in place. In order for money to continue to flow, the other chamber of parliament, the House of Representatives, must also give its approval after the Senate. A vote there is not expected before Monday.
In the Senate, 71 senators voted in favor of the latest budget package, 29 against. Part of the package is a special provision for the Department of Homeland Security, for which only a two-week transition budget is initially planned. The reason for this is the demands of the Democrats. They had initially blocked the budget package in the Senate in protest against the rigorous deportation policy of US President Donald Trump's administration.
Following the fatal shooting of two US citizens in Minneapolis, the Democrats want to use the budget of the responsible ministry to ensure, among other things, that federal officers are no longer allowed to wear masks during operations against migrants and that they should also wear body cameras.
