The federal government is currently funded through a continuing resolution, a temporary measure that keeps agencies operating at existing spending levels while Congress finishes work on full-year budget bills, that runs through December 11. The deal followed two separate shutdowns earlier in 2026 and was deliberately timed to avoid a repeat disruption right before voters go to the polls in November.
Fiscal year 2026 began with a shutdown at the start of October 2025 that lasted until mid-November, when a continuing resolution and three of twelve full appropriations bills were enacted. A second, shorter shutdown followed at the end of January into early February 2026, tied to a dispute over the Department of Homeland Security's funding and immigration enforcement oversight, and lasted less than four days before Congress reopened the government. The September stopgap bill was the product of months of negotiation, with Democratic leaders ultimately backing it after securing changes tied to health care subsidies and immigration enforcement oversight, a shift that gave House Speaker Mike Johnson the votes he needed despite a narrow Republican majority.
The bill cleared the Senate on August 8 by a vote of 90 to 6, and the House followed on September 1 with a vote of 370 to 48. Nineteen House Republicans opposed the bill, largely over unrelated provisions added during Senate negotiations, an early sign of friction that could resurface as the December deadline approaches.
The deal buys time rather than resolving the underlying disagreements that triggered the year's two shutdowns. Lawmakers in both parties have said openly that neither wanted a lengthy funding lapse hanging over the midterm campaign, and full-year spending bills will now need to be negotiated in the weeks following the election.
Congress will need to reach agreement on full-year appropriations, or another stopgap, before funding lapses again on December 11.
What is a continuing resolution?
It is a temporary funding measure that keeps government agencies running at existing spending levels while Congress finishes full-year appropriations bills.
Why was the funding fight pushed to December?
Lawmakers in both parties wanted to avoid a shutdown disrupting the run-up to the November midterm elections.