House Republican leaders are planning to bring the Senate-passed continuing resolution (CR) to the floor for expedited consideration shortly after lawmakers return from August recess on August 31, 2026, potentially sending the measure to President Trump’s desk as early as September 1. The bill would extend current funding levels through December 11 and avert the risk of a government shutdown well ahead of the September 30 deadline.
As a reminder, this version of the CR also includes funding “anomalies,” or exceptions to the flat funding extension that would give programs such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development affordable housing programs more flexibility during the extension. The bill also places limits on the Trump administration’s proposal to require senior political appointees to approve federal grants, a change that helped earn support from Senate Democrats and allowed the bill to pass 90-6 in the Senate. As a result, the bill is expected to have enough support from House Democrats to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass the bill quickly under suspension of the rules and avoid a drawn-out debate on the House floor.
Plans could always change quickly, especially in this Congress, but we expect this bill will likely pass and any further progress on Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations will be punted until the post-Election Day lame duck session.