Congress Looks to Early Stopgap Bill to Avert Shutdown

Congress faces a packed agenda with August recess looming and a government shutdown date of September 30 unless action is taken.

To avoid a potential shutdown, House Republicans are pitching a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government at current levels through December 4, pushing the deadline until after the November midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake. The pitch to a CR is a recognition that Congress is unlikely to pass full-year FY 2027 appropriations bills by the September 30 deadline.

The House has approved all 12 spending bills through committee and passed three on the House floor. The Senate has not advanced any as Republicans and Democrats have been unable to agree on top-line spending figures.

Clean Funding Bill

The House bill is a “clean” funding bill that keeps funding at current rates and does not include additional provisions. Speaker Mike Johnson said more controversial legislation such as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) Act would be added to different bills instead.

“This short-term, clean stopgap prevents harmful disruptions to our national security and the vital programs our constituents rely on at the end of September, allowing for runway in the closing months of the 119th Congress,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK). 

However, the plan to lock in a stopgap right now faces an uncertain path from both Republicans and Democrats.

Some of the more conservative members of the Republican House caucus want elements of the SAVE Act included in a CR.

Democrats have also raised concerns that a clean CR would not include limits or oversight provisions related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Senate Open to Early CR

Over in the Senate, senators from both parties have signaled they are willing to consider a short-term funding bill, although negotiations remain in the early stages.

Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) said she wants to see what happens in the House and may go along with a CR if changes are made.

“I understand there’s some real flaws with it. I am happy to look at a bipartisan CR, but I understand there’s some real problems on the House side,” said Senator Murray. 

Third Reconciliation Bill?

Beyond government funding, House leaders are also preparing votes on the FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and a third budget reconciliation package.

Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to build support for a roughly $95 billion reconciliation package that would include election-related provisions tied to the SAVE Act, funding related to the conflict with Iran, and additional aid for farmers.

The initial budget plan was moved out of the Budget Committee last week on a party-line vote.  

$73 billion would be for the military, $12 billion for farmers, with the remaining $10 billion for election-related matters including grants to states to incentivize strict voter-ID laws.