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US House passes short-term funding bill to avert government shutdown before midterm elections
The House of Representatives voted 370-48 on Tuesday to approve a stopgap funding bill, extending federal agency operations beyond October 1 with broad bipartisan support.
Congress required the temporary extension because lawmakers failed to complete work on the 12 spending bills needed to fund government programs for the full fiscal year running from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma said the measure provides "certainty" for service members, while Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut argued it helps Congress reclaim constitutional spending power.
This legislation funds federal agencies at current levels through December 11, giving lawmakers 15 weeks to negotiate the 12 full-year spending bills before the holiday season deadline.
Both parties aimed to avoid a shutdown before November midterm elections as $40 trillion in national debt has intensified pressure on lawmakers to resolve broader fiscal challenges.