On September 1, 2026, the House of Representatives passed a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that extends current government funding through December 11, 2026.
The CR keeps most programs at FY 2026 levels but includes funding exceptions for certain programs. The exceptions mean the programs will be given enough funding to ensure current program participation.
These programs include:
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Small Business Administration loans
- Disaster Relief Fund
- Indian Health Service
- Department of Justice
- Wildfire suppression activities
The CR also includes a temporary ban on implementing the regulation which revises guidance for federal financial assistance. The proposed rule would introduce a “merit-based” award selection and allow federal agencies more power to create and end grant awards.
Next Steps
The House of Representatives is out of session until after the November midterm elections. The Senate, which returned on September 14, is also looking to end their session early and send senators back to their states for the rest of the midterm campaign.
Once they return on November 9, Congress will be in a “lame-duck” session. This session runs until early January, when the new Congress starts. During the “lame-duck” session, many lawmakers, especially those who did not win their elections, will work to push through bills that were unsuccessful before. Often these bills are heavily partisan since those defeated lawmakers are no longer responsible to the voters.
