Tick-tock, Washington—time’s running out for the Senate to keep the government’s lights on before a critical deadline that could plunge us into another shutdown mess, according to Fox News reports. 

With just three working weeks until January 30, lawmakers are back in session to tackle stalled funding talks, unresolved appropriations bills, expired healthcare subsidies, and a contentious climate research dispute—all while hoping to dodge a repeat of last year’s record-breaking 43-day shutdown.

The funding process hit a brick wall before the holiday break, leaving the Senate with a mountain to climb as they reconvene on Monday.

Funding Deadline Looms Over Senate

Neither chamber is anywhere near passing the 12 necessary appropriations bills to fully fund the government, a fact that’s got both parties sweating.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer insists, “We want to get through the process and get the appropriations bills done.” Admirable, sure, but with Democrats previously spearheading a 43-day shutdown over Obamacare subsidies, one wonders if this is genuine urgency or just political theater.

Those subsidies, by the way, have already expired, and while bipartisan senators are crafting a fix, House Republicans have their own plan passed, with another bipartisan vote pending—yet Democrats seem poised to wield this as a bargaining chip.

Climate Research Sparks Heated Debate

Adding fuel to the fire, a five-bill spending package—covering key departments like Defense, Health and Human Services, and Transportation—nearly moved forward before stalling over a bizarre side fight.

Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper slammed the brakes, furious over the Trump administration’s scrutiny of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought didn’t mince words, labeling NCAR “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country,” a jab that hits at the heart of progressive environmental priorities.

Colorado Jobs Hang in Balance

While Vought’s critique might resonate with those skeptical of overblown climate narratives, the reality for Colorado is grim—hundreds of NCAR employees face job uncertainty, and local communities fear losing support for rebuilding after devastating floods and wildfires.

Bennet and Hickenlooper aren’t backing down, vowing to protect their state from what they see as punitive meddling by the administration.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is scrambling for a backup plan if the five-bill package flops, knowing the House hasn’t moved on most of its own bills in ages.

Shutdown Specter Haunts Negotiations

Thune’s caution is palpable, as both parties publicly swear they want to avoid another shutdown like the one that paralyzed government last September.

Yet, with Democrats still stinging from President Trump’s $9 billion clawback of previously agreed funding—a move passed on a partisan vote—trust between the aisles is thinner than a dime.

So here we stand, with January 30 inching closer, unresolved issues piling up, and no clear strategy to keep the government humming—unless Congress can pull off a miracle, taxpayers might be left holding the bag again.