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WASHINGTON — Senate leaders agreed to hold votes this week on dueling proposals to reopen shuttered federal agencies, forcing a political reckoning for senators grappling with the longest shutdown in U.S. history: Side with President Donald Trump or vote to temporarily end the shutdown and keep negotiating.

Consideration of nominees for top level roles in the Trump administration is among the priorities for the U.S. Senate during its brief post-election session, the chamber’s leader said Nov. 27.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s move to keep the chamber in session for part of the August recess has focused on bills that would fund the government and not too much on a slew of high-profile transportation nominees.

A U.S. Department of Transportation grants program popular with members of Congress would receive $550 million in fiscal 2018 under legislation Senate appropriators easily approved on July 27.

The Senate is likely to vote on President Donald Trump’s picks for senior posts at the U.S. Department of Transportation this spring, the chamber’s Republican leaders indicated this month.

Senate Democrats envision agreeing with Republican leaders to proceed relatively soon with a floor vote that would confirm Elaine Chao, President-elect Donald Trump’s designee to manage the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Democrats’ leader told reporters Jan. 19.

The top trucking policymaker in the Senate, John Thune (R-S.D.), announced his pick to lead the panel as staff director in 2016.