New: Senate Fails to Advance Funding Bill As Partial Shutdown Looms

The Senate, on Thursday, failed to advance a key funding bill, necessary to averting a partial government shutdown come Saturday. This was a procedural vote to invoke cloture on H.R. 7148 — what some were calling a "test" vote on the matter. 

U.S. Senate FAILS to advance funding bill to avert partial government shutdown, 45-55.

Government funding expires Friday at midnight for certain federal agencies. pic.twitter.com/Zed4o3pwou

— CSPAN (@cspan) January 29, 2026

Senate Democrats and a few Republicans on Thursday blocked a major government funding package that needs to pass by midnight Saturday to avoid a government shutdown, signaling that negotiations between President Trump and Senate Democrats still have a way to go before reaching a deal.

A motion to advance the bill failed by a vote of 45-55. 

As intimated in the above excerpt: This ain't over. There's still plenty of jockeying and jawing going on about it. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) was among those on the Republican side who voted no — in this instance, to enable him to immediately move for reconsideration. (Senate procedural rules can be rather arcane.) 

From colleague Kelly Phares. The Senate procedural vote on government funding failed. 45 yeas. 55 nays. Needed 60 yeas

7 Republicans voted no -- Sen Johnson (R-WI), Sen Tuberville (R-AL), Sen Lee (R-UT), Sen Budd (R-NC), Sen Paul (R-KY), Sen Moody (R-FL), Sen Rick Scott (R-FL).…

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 29, 2026

As indicated in the above tweet, the other Republicans who voted no were:

1. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)
2. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
3. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)
4. Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC)
5. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
6. Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL)
7. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)

While their specific reason(s) for the no vote here is not entirely clear (though it may have to do with the push for the SAVE Act), this was essentially a "free" vote, as the Democrats were voting no in lockstep, thereby preventing the clearing of the 60-vote hurdle. 

ALSO SEE: Here's the Scoop on Shutdown Deal Reportedly in the Works Between the White House and Schumer

Partial Shutdown Looming? Thune Sets Funding Package Test Vote for This Week

And there are reportedly ongoing discussions between President Trump's team and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

There was some optimism in the Senate Thursday morning that the package might advance after Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Trump’s team made some progress on Wednesday toward potentially splitting off the Homeland Security bill and setting it aside for future reforms.  

A source familiar with the discussions told The Hill that while no agreement had been reached yet, the discussions were ongoing and moving in Democrats’ direction.

Whether that will translate into something that moves the needle remains to be seen. RedState will provide updates as warranted.

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