New Legislation Keeps Federal Government Funded Through Dec. 11 as Lawmakers Work Toward a Full-Year Budget Agreement
President Donald Trump on Sept. 2 signed legislation to fund the government until the midterm elections conclude in November.
The House passed the measure a day earlier in a 370–48 vote, meeting the two-thirds majority threshold required to advance the bill quickly under suspension of the rules. The legislation would fund the government through Dec. 11.
Trump’s Rapid Response team announced the signing of the legislation in a post on X.
“On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the President signed into law the ‘Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027,’ which includes a short-term continuing resolution that provides fiscal year 2027 appropriations to Federal agencies through December 11, 2026, for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government, and extends authorities for a broad range of programs including surface transportation and veteran programs.”
Stopgap funding bills often pass through Congress relatively smoothly during election years in the immediate lead-up to the midterms, as lawmakers seek to avoid government shutdowns shortly before an election.
The legislation establishes guardrails for the Department of War, prohibiting it from launching new programs, increasing production rates, or entering into multi-year procurement agreements.
It also allows spending above the default rate when necessary to maintain certain programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
The bill further prohibits the Office of Management and Budget from issuing or finalizing its proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance. It states that if the rule is finalized before the measure takes effect, it “shall not have force or take effect” through Dec. 11. The rule was published in the Federal Register on May 29.
Other provisions include delaying a ban on hemp for one month. While the Trump administration pushed for the delay, conservatives in Congress have opposed it.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has defended the continuing resolution.
“We’re going to avoid the threat of another Democrat shutdown,” he said during a press conference on Sept. 1.
Johnson said the continuing resolution would give appropriators additional time to work out a full-year budget bill.
“Republicans have made remarkable progress towards returning to regular order and restoring the appropriations process the way it’s supposed to work—to a committee-driven approach, as it should be,” he said.
“And our appropriators have worked very hard to restore that muscle memory, and we are really, really grateful for their work because that is how you act as a good steward of taxpayer dollars and resources, and we’re going to continue all that great work.”
Ahead of the vote, Democrats also expressed support for the continuing resolution.
House Democratic Conference Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said the measure would receive bipartisan support, while Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) urged her fellow Democrats during a caucus meeting to vote in favor of the legislation.
