Week Ahead in Washington: January 25

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Senators return to Capitol Hill this week with a partial government shutdown looming as lawmakers work to avoid another funding lapse.

The clock is ticking with seven federal departments set to run out of money if lawmakers don’t pass funding bills by Friday. The departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Education need new funding to continue operations.

Congress already funded other parts of the federal government through September.

The House passed measures last week to fund all seven departments. The bills now head to the Senate for consideration.

Funding for most agencies passed with broad, bipartisan support. However, the Department of Homeland Security bill passed mostly along party lines.

Many Senate Democrats have come out against the DHS bill, which needs 60 votes to break a potential filibuster. The opposition could complicate the entire legislative package.

Democrats object to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions as Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continue surging agents to Minnesota and Maine.

President Donald Trump is set to hit the trail this week as he kicks off his push ahead of the midterms.

Trump plans to head to Clive, Iowa, on Tuesday to give a speech on energy and his economic agenda.