The Senate on Friday broke a multiday impasse by passing the first three fiscal 2026 spending bills, the first time the upper chamber has passed appropriations bills before the August recess since 2018.

The Senate on Friday passed its first tranche of government funding bills for fiscal year 2026 ahead of its upcoming August recess, but Congress is bracing for a potentially messy fight to prevent a shutdown when they return in September.

U. S. senators are heading into their August recess with plans to combine and pass three government funding bills into one “minibus” package before leaving.