Appropriators could finish drafting a compromise version of a three-bill spending package for fiscal 2026 in “two or three days” once the partial government shutdown is over, House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said last week.

The shutdown has stalled work on full-year appropriations for more than three weeks, but Cole said lawmakers in both chambers are close to finishing compromise drafts of the Agriculture, Legislative Branch and Military Construction-VA bills. Those can’t move forward, however, until the government reopens, he said.

Democrats are insisting on an agreement to extend expiring health care subsidies before voting to reopen the government, and Republicans are refusing to negotiate until the shutdown ends.

Cole said Oct. 23 that he had spoken separately to bo

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