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Congress continued work on Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 government funding last week as the House approved its third appropriations measure of the year, providing funding for national security and Department of State programs. With the current fiscal year set to end on September 30, House Republican leaders are now shifting their focus to avoiding a government shutdown by advancing a short-term continuing resolution (CR). Leadership plans to bring a “clean” CR to the House floor this week that would extend federal funding at FY 2026 levels through December 4, providing Congress additional time to complete the annual appropriations process.

Moving a continuing resolution this early in the appropriations cycle is unusual. However, House Republican leaders appear intent on addressing government funding well before the September deadline, potentially setting the stage for broader negotiations with Senate Democrats and the White House ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

One notable development is that conservative House Republicans have indicated they do not intend to seek the inclusion of the SAVE America Act in the continuing resolution. Keeping the funding measure free of unrelated policy provisions could improve its chances of advancing through the House.

Meanwhile, the Senate is coordinating with the White House on its own approach to the stopgap funding bill. Senate negotiators are considering whether to include funding “anomalies”—targeted adjustments that modify FY 2026 funding levels or provide temporary authority for specific federal programs. Those discussions suggest the Senate is likely to amend any continuing resolution approved by the House and advance its own version, setting up negotiations between the two chambers before final passage.

With appropriations work continuing and differences emerging over the structure of a temporary funding bill, Congress faces another round of negotiations as lawmakers work to keep the federal government funded beyond the end of the fiscal year.