The bill funds federal agencies through December 11 and now heads to President Trump’s desk, sidestepping a shutdown fight ahead of November’s elections.
The US House of Representatives has passed a short-term spending bill to keep the federal government funded through December 11, averting a shutdown just weeks before the November midterm elections. The bill passed by an overwhelming 370-48 vote and now moves to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The legislation, known as a continuing resolution, keeps government funding at current levels while lawmakers continue negotiating full-year spending bills for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins October 1. The Senate had already approved the measure by a wide margin earlier in the summer before leaving for recess.
The bill includes provisions temporarily blocking a proposed rule that would have put federal grant funding under review by political appointees, and language preventing the administration from shifting funds from other programs toward Border Patrol operations. It notably excludes funding requested by the White House for military operations related to the conflict with Iran.
Some hard-line Republicans voted against the measure, partly objecting to a Senate-added provision delaying enforcement of a ban on intoxicating hemp products.
WHAT OFFICIALS / SOURCES ARE SAYING
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole said the bill gives the country “certainty that the government will remain open” and that service members will continue to be paid. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters the chamber was working to “avoid the threat” of another shutdown. Democratic Appropriations Committee member Rosa DeLauro encouraged colleagues to support the bill during a caucus meeting ahead of the vote, while Representative Betty McCollum welcomed the exclusion of funding tied to the Iran conflict.
KEY FACTS
- Vote result: House passed the bill 370-48; Senate had already passed it earlier by a wide margin
- Funding period: Federal government funded through December 11
- Key provisions: Blocks political review of grant funding; restricts fund transfers to Border Patrol; excludes Iran war funding
- Context: The US saw a record 43-day shutdown last year over health-insurance subsidy disputes, followed by a 76-day partial shutdown affecting the Homeland Security Department
- Next step: Bill now heads to President Trump for signature
WHY THIS MATTERS
A shutdown so close to the midterm elections could have disrupted government services, delayed paychecks for federal employees and troops, and become a political liability for both parties heading into a contested election season. By passing the stopgap measure, lawmakers have removed that risk for now, though the underlying disagreements over full-year spending priorities remain unresolved. The bill’s exclusion of Iran-related war funding also signals ongoing congressional debate over the administration’s military posture in the Middle East.
BACKGROUND
Since the start of President Trump’s second term, Congress has struggled to pass full-year appropriations, resulting in three partial shutdowns totaling an unprecedented number of days, driven largely by disputes over healthcare subsidies and oversight of federal immigration enforcement. Neither party wanted a repeat of that disruption ahead of a competitive election cycle, pushing both sides toward a bipartisan short-term compromise.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
President Trump is expected to sign the bill, formally extending government funding through December 11. Lawmakers will then return to negotiations on the 12 full-year spending bills needed to fund the government for the 2027 fiscal year, with the outcome of the November 3 midterm elections likely to shape the balance of power in those talks.
LATEST UPDATE
The bill passed the House this week and awaits the president’s signature. Congress is expected to resume spending negotiations after the midterm elections, with the December 11 deadline setting up another potential funding deadline later this year.
