The question of whether the federal government would shut down this fall has been settled, at least for now. Lawmakers passed a short term funding bill, known as a continuing resolution or CR, that keeps agencies running at current levels through December 11.
The deal came together over the summer. Senate Appropriations Committee leaders, Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Patty Murray of Washington, struck a bipartisan agreement to extend funding past the point where the last fiscal year's money ran out on September 30. Without action, a lapse would have triggered a government shutdown on October 1, just weeks before the midterm elections.
The House followed by passing its own version of the stopgap under a fast track procedure that required a two thirds majority, and it passed comfortably, 370 to 48. The bill then needed the House and Senate to agree on the same end date before it could go to the president for a signature, which they did, settling on December 11.
A continuing resolution is a temporary patch. It does not set new spending levels or pass the dozen or so individual appropriations bills that are supposed to fund the government for a full year. Instead, it simply extends last year's funding levels so agencies can keep operating while Congress keeps negotiating. For the Pentagon, the bill means current weapons programs keep running at the prior year's funding level, and it avoids a scenario where civilian employees are furloughed and uniformed troops have to work without pay.
The stakes around these deadlines have been higher than usual lately. A funding fight last October led to a lapse that stretched for over a month before it was resolved, a reminder of how quickly routine budget deadlines can turn into prolonged standoffs. For now, that risk has been pushed off. Federal agencies, contractors, and the employees who depend on steady paychecks have certainty through the second week of December.
The real test comes in December. Lawmakers still have to agree on full year spending bills, or pass another stopgap, before the December 11 deadline arrives, and that negotiation will unfold alongside the usual end of year crush of other legislative priorities.
What is a continuing resolution?
It is a temporary funding bill that keeps federal agencies operating at their current, prior year spending levels while Congress works out longer term budget bills.
When is the next funding deadline?
December 11, 2026, when the current stopgap funding expires.