Quick Hits

*** Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the second-ranking member in the Senate leadership, warned that a short lapse in appropriations could occur over the weekend in advance of a funding vote. Lawmakers have yet to agree on a fiscal year 2021 appropriations package. An extension of the current short-term continuing resolution would require a unanimous consent motion to pass in the Senate. That CR expires on Friday.

"I know people who are going to object to that, that want to keep pressure on the process until we get a deal," Thune told reporters on Dec. 17.

Lawmakers are expected to work over the weekend to try to hammer out a deal on funding and on a COVID-19 relief package.

*** The Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration are the latest to emerge as likely victims of the SolarWinds breach, according to a Dec. 17 report in Politico.

*** Nominations for the 2021 Fed 100 are now being accepted. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 31.