House appropriators want to move forward with a smaller set of spending bills before the end of the year, fearing the larger package preferred by the Senate will create a last-minute fight for Congress in January.

Appropriators in the lower chamber are eyeing a three-bill “minibus” that they could put on the floor in December, before lawmakers depart for the Christmas recess. However, the Senate appears to be dead-set on a five-bill package that includes funding for the Pentagon and other agencies that are more controversial.