“After three unnecessary lapses in funding during the fiscal year 2026 cycle, putting the possibility of yet another harmful shutdown off the table should be a priority for each and every one of us.
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Senate Leaders Strike a Bipartisan Stopgap to Fund the Government Through December 11, Sidestepping Trump and House Republicans
August 3, 2026
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) released the text of a continuing resolution on August 2, 2026 that would hold federal funding at current levels through December 11 — pushing the next shutdown deadline past the November midterm elections. The Senate voted 89-4 on Monday, August 3 to limit debate on the measure, an unusually early move given that the fiscal year does not end until September 30 and Congress normally waits until the final hours of a funding deadline. Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said the predictability was worth it after two lengthy shutdowns, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the bill preserved room to keep negotiating a budget. The measure includes adjustments for WIC, shipbuilding and the Disaster Relief Fund, and both Collins and Murray highlighted a provision blocking a proposed OMB rule on federal grants for the duration of the CR. The bipartisan deal cut against demands from President Trump and House Republicans, whose own CR had taken a different approach; the House was on recess and not scheduled to return until August 31. Murray, while backing the bill, criticized fellow senators for not doing more to check the administration.
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7 Statements
“[The vote is] an important step forward to prevent a shutdown no one wants and provide the runway we need to negotiate funding bills in the months ahead.
“I look forward to passing this bill in the next few days. Unfortunately, I think after two government shutdowns that have extended for a long period of time, it’s better for everybody if there’s predictability, certainty, and just to take that issue off the table.
“We’ve gotten funds released. We’re still in arrears, and I’ve made that very clear. But I think that with the next disaster supplemental, we’ll be able to catch up.
“The bill allows us to continue negotiating a budget that won’t leave working families behind.
“This CR is straightforward. It continues current government funding levels until December 11th. This measure gives Congress the time we need to continue our work on bipartisan appropriations bills. I am grateful for the work of my colleagues; this CR is a major step toward averting a damaging shutdown.
“It’s good that we were able to produce a much-improved CR to keep the government funded. This bill includes important extensions and language that House Republicans’ CR did not — we closed the loophole in House Republicans’ CR that would have allowed the Trump administration to transfer funding. I hope everyone who shares my frustration that Republicans refuse to do more to stand up to this president will join us.