August 2026

Prior to leaving Washington, DC for the August recess, the House and Senate passed separate continuing resolutions (CRs) that would fund federal agencies past the end of FY 2026 (September 30). Consideration of CR legislation this far ahead of the funding deadline is unusual but Congress is seemingly aiming to avoid a government shutdown in an election year.

The House passed its version by a 220–205 vote on July 21. The “clean” CR would maintain current funding levels through December 4 without adding other policy provisions.

The Senate passed its version by a 90–6 vote on August 8. That measure would extend current funding through December 11 and includes several additional provisions. Among them is language prohibiting the use of federal funds through December 11 to implement the proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) wrote to OMB Director Russell Vought in July to express concerns about the proposed rule and urged OMB to extend the comment period. If enacted, the Senate provision delaying implementation of the rule would represent a significant win for the scientific community.

The House is in recess until August 31, and the Senate is in recess through September 8.  Reaching agreement on a final CR will be among Congress’s most pressing responsibilities when lawmakers return. The House has passed all of its FY 2027 appropriations bills, while the Senate Appropriations Committee has not considered its bills amid disagreement over overall funding levels and defense spending.

For the provision delaying the OMB rule to take effect, it must remain in the final CR negotiated by the House and Senate and signed by the president.