On Friday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 by a vote of 217-212. The approved short-term funding measure would fund the government through Nov. 21, 2025, with no additional policies attached other than extensions of necessary funding. Later the same afternoon, the Senate voted down H.R. 5371 by a vote of 44-48 and a Democrat-proposed funding bill, S. 2882, by a vote of 47-45. Both bills required a 60-vote threshold to pass out of the Senate. If Congress does not reach an agreement by Sept. 30, the government will enter a shutdown on Oct. 1.
According to a notice from the House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) on Friday, the House has recessed for the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah and does not anticipate returning to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 29 and 30 as previously scheduled. However, the House may still be required to return for legislative business depending on events in the Senate, as Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) used a legislative procedure to allow for potential reconsideration of S. 2882 and H.R. 5371 in the future.
NCPA is paying close attention to this matter and will share further information on the proceedings in Congress regarding continued government funding.
