Congressional Republicans are plowing ahead with a short-term extension of government funding this week, pushing their stopgap bill toward an uncertain future as Democrats double down in their opposition.
The fight over the continuing resolution that Republicans unveiled Tuesday is the latest sign of breakdown in Congress’ fiscal 2026 funding talks and could hurtle the government toward a shutdown Oct. 1 if neither side relents.
“It’s a fool’s gambit,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said of Democrats’ threats to oppose the CR. “To make it a partisan exercise is making a big mistake.”
The continuing resolution, H.R. 5371, would keep federal agencies funded through Nov. 21 to buy appropriators more time to negotiate and pass fiscal 2026 spending bills. It does not include partisan policy riders or cut funding.
But the proposal also does not include extensions for health care subsidies that will expire later this year — something that Democrats have recently said is a prerequisite for their support.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Democrats came out in force against the proposal and blasted Republicans for not negotiating with them.
They have preemptively cast blame for a shutdown on Republicans, and they suggested that they will release their own CR with health care extensions.
“Where are the Republican leaders?” said Senate Appropriations ranking member Patty Murray (D-Wash.). “If Republicans can’t even sit down with Leaders Schumer and [House Minority Leader Hakeem] Jeffries [D-N.Y.] to simply have a conversation, then they cannot govern.”
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said Schumer “knows where my office is.” He pointed out that Democrats generally prefer and vote for “clean” CRs like the one Republicans have put forth but are now criticizing.
The House plans to vote on the CR by Friday, but lingering opposition from a handful of Republicans could prevent that. If it does pass, the Senate could follow as soon as this weekend. Procedural delays could push the vote to next week, shortening a scheduled recess.
Several Democrats on Tuesday noted President Donald Trump’s recent comments incorrectly asserting that Republicans did not need Democratic votes to pass the bill. They dared the GOP to try that approach.
“Donald Trump said yesterday morning that he doesn’t have to deal with us,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). “And so I wish him the best.”
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a senior appropriator, suggested that Democrats could come to regret their opposition to the proposed CR if there is a shutdown at the end of the month.
Without a continuing resolution in place, the White House would have more latitude to transfer or withhold funding from Democratic priorities.
Trump would have “pretty much unfettered discretion, at least in his mind, to do whatever he wants to do,” said Kennedy. “I personally think the president will make it very painful.”
What’s in the CR
Republicans’ proposal would extend current funding levels and authorizations through Nov. 21. It covers extensions for soon-to-expire programs and laws, such as the National Flood Insurance Program and the Defense Production Act.
The bill incorporates some of the “anomalies,” or funding tweaks, that the White House requested last month to ensure that certain programs can continue throughout the duration of the CR.
It would allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to more quickly draw down disaster relief funds. However, it does not provide for any supplemental disaster money, despite FEMA’s disaster fund being close to depleted.
Republicans’ CR would extend federal wildland firefighting authorities, as well as firefighter salaries.
The anomalies were determined based on conversations between Congress and the White House Office of Management and Budget, and some of OMB’s requests were ultimately deemed unnecessary and not included, according to a House Republican leadership aide, who was granted anonymity to discuss the negotiations.
The White House’s requests were for a hypothetical CR extending through Jan. 31. The House proposal is significantly shorter than that.
Republican leaders did not include the White House’s original request for language that would have authorized EPA to transfer millions of dollars toward elevator repairs.
Similarly omitted was language to expand the Department of the Interior’s wildfire mitigation authorities under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Other talks continue
Congressional appropriators on both sides of the aisle are continuing to negotiate three fiscal 2026 spending bills: Agriculture, Legislative Branch and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs.
Some had hoped the compromise bills would be attached to the CR, but they will probably be voted on separately.
The funding extension has “probably got to go clean,” said House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.). “You don’t want to confuse anything.”
Discussions continue on the Senate’s version of the Energy-Water bill. The House passed its version along party lines earlier this month, but the Senate bill has been held up by Kennedy, the chair of the Energy-Water Appropriations Subcommittee.
He wants to lower the bill’s negotiated top line and recently met with Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) to try to reach an understanding, he said. The bill still needs more work before it can be marked up.
“Nothing’s been resolved, but it went well,” Kennedy said of his meeting with Collins. “I think she understands my concerns. What she’s going to do, I have no idea.”
