Senate adjourns for five-week recess after passing government funding bill and confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general

The U.S. Senate adjourned early Saturday morning for a five-week recess after completing two major items on its agenda: passage of a bill to fund the federal government through Dec. 11 and the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, according to a report from The Hill.

In the funding action, senators passed legislation designed to prevent a lapse in appropriations by extending federal government operations until Dec. 11, setting a near-term deadline for lawmakers to take up the next phase of budget negotiations once the recess ends.

On the personnel track, the Senate confirmed Blanche to lead the U.S. Department of Justice. The confirmation was part of the Senate’s early-week push to complete business before members left Washington for the extended break.

The Hill also reported that Senate Republicans agreed, at least for the moment, to set aside President Donald Trump’s demand to approve another budget resolution, a step the administration has argued would pave the way for additional budget changes. The Senate’s recess plan indicates lawmakers chose to prioritize completion of the funding and confirmation items over advancing that additional budget measure before leaving.

The decision to adjourn early carries practical effects for agencies and committees. A Dec. 11 funding runway preserves federal operations and reduces the risk of an immediate funding interruption, while postponing work on any policy proposals that were not cleared before the break.

For DOJ, Blanche’s confirmation changes the department’s leadership status for the remainder of the funding cycle, with ongoing department operations continuing under the confirmed attorney general’s direction. The Senate’s calendar shift means other legislative or oversight initiatives that require floor time will likely be deferred to the post-recess period.

Once the five-week recess ends, senators are expected to return to unfinished business, including any remaining appropriations work and any budget-resolution negotiations that were paused to make room for the government-funding and attorney general confirmation milestones.