In a critical move on Thursday, House Republicans successfully pushed the last four fiscal 2026 spending bills past a significant procedural hurdle, setting the stage for crucial votes later in the day aimed at transferring the legislation to the Senate. The package, integral for funding key departments including Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, and Transportation, along with Housing and Urban Development, narrowly passed the procedural test with a vote of 214-213.

The vote remained open for nearly an hour as tensions and negotiations reached a peak. Speaker Mike Johnson was seen in intense discussions with Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa). Both Boebert and Representative Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) eventually shifted their stance to support the package, securing the necessary votes for passage.

Amidst the procedural vote, a separate measure concerning the funding of the Homeland Security Department through September 30 was also set forth. This measure has stirred controversy, particularly due to disagreements over immigration enforcement tactics previously instituted under President Donald Trump. While some Democrats have advocated for defunding ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the bill as proposed includes new restrictions on the agency, yet falls short of the complete defunding some are seeking.

The Homeland Security bill also includes a widely supported amendment that blocks payments to senators whose phone data was inadvertently collected during investigations into Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. This amendment, passed unanimously in the House, aims to repeal provisions codified under a prior stopgap spending bill, addressing concerns that many lawmakers were unaware of such provisions when they were originally passed.

The other three bills—pertaining to Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD—are to be voted on collectively as a single package. The successful advancement of these bills is also a strategic victory for conservative members who have sought greater influence and opportunity to propose amendments. This includes conservative-driven amendments aimed at eliminating certain earmarks and preventing the enforcement of vehicle "kill switch" technology.

Additionally, to address concerns from farm-state Republicans regarding the exclusion of a provision for year-round sales of E15 fuel, House leadership has agreed to establish a congressional working group dedicated to ethanol policy.

As these final spending bills for fiscal year 2026 progress, they carry with them not only the potential to fund essential government departments but also the heavy task of meeting the January 30 deadline to prevent another government shutdown. The Senate now awaits the arrival of these bills, with the hope of swift passage to ensure governmental continuity and stability.