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Congress has bought itself additional time to complete the FY 2027 appropriations process, but significant work remains before lawmakers can finalize full-year government funding. On September 1, the House approved the Senate amendments to H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027, by a vote of 370–48. President Trump signed the legislation into law on September 2. The stopgap measure extends federal funding beyond the September 30 end of FY 2026 and provides additional time for Congress to negotiate and complete the FY 2027 appropriations bills. 

The House has completed committee action on all 12 FY 2027 appropriations bills, marking the earliest completion of the full committee process since FY 2020. The full House has also passed three of the bills: Military Construction–Veterans Affairs, Agriculture–FDA, and National Security–State and Related Programs. 

The Senate appropriations process has not advanced at the same pace. As of the beginning of September, the Senate had not reported a single FY 2027 appropriations bill from committee. The Senate’s lack of progress reflects unresolved disagreements over spending levels and the broader framework for completing the appropriations process. 

The result is that the two chambers are approaching the FY 2027 process from very different starting points. The House has completed committee action on all 12 bills and passed three, while the Senate still has substantial committee and floor work ahead.

A separate issue is the administration’s request for additional FY 2026 funding, including supplemental funding related to national security and military operations. Congress has not yet enacted the requested supplemental package, creating additional pressure on the Pentagon and congressional defense appropriators.

Republican defense hawks and appropriators are also pressing the Senate to advance a new FY 2027 budget resolution, which could provide the procedural vehicle for another reconciliation package. If the Senate reaches agreement on a budget resolution, the House could potentially return to Washington on short notice to consider the measure and begin the reconciliation process. For now, however, there does not appear to be sufficient Senate support to move that process forward.