House approves stopgap bill ahead of midterm elections
The US House of Representatives has approved a short-term funding measure that will keep the federal government operating through December 11, temporarily removing the threat of a shutdown ahead of the midterm elections.
The bill passed by a vote of 370 to 48, comfortably clearing the two-thirds majority required to move the legislation through an expedited procedure under a suspension of the rules.
The measure was initially negotiated in the Senate as part of a bipartisan agreement approved in August. Following the House vote, it will be sent to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.
Defense programs remain funded at fiscal 2026 levels
For the Department of Defense, the continuing resolution allows existing weapons programs to receive funding at fiscal 2026 levels.
It also prevents a disruption that could furlough civilian employees and require military personnel to continue working without pay if the federal government were to shut down.
The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said the bill would keep the government open, protect progress already achieved and preserve the path toward full-year appropriations.
He added that the measure supports the armed forces and security agencies while maintaining authorities for critical military research and development programs.
Bipartisan backing overcomes political divisions
The chairman of the House Democratic Caucus predicted broad bipartisan support for the legislation. The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee also urged members of her party to vote in favor of the continuing resolution.
A senior Democrat on the House defense appropriations subcommittee praised the measure for excluding funding for the war in Iran.
She emphasized that the bill did not contain the money requested by the administration in a supplemental package for the conflict, which she characterized as a war initiated by presidential choice.
Most Pentagon funding exemptions left out
The resolution does not include most of the special funding exemptions requested by the White House on behalf of the Defense Department.
Among the proposals omitted from the legislation were:
- $1 billion for a new class of warships, intended to begin advanced procurement of a nuclear propulsion system;
- language that would have allowed the Pentagon to obligate funds for five major munitions programs, including the Patriot system’s PAC-3 interceptor, the Tomahawk cruise missile, AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and two variants of the Standard Missile-3;
- an exemption from sequestration for funds provided under last year’s budget reconciliation law.
The administration had warned that, without such an exemption, roughly 8% of unobligated reconciliation funds could become unavailable when the new fiscal year begins on October 1.
Temporary measure limits new defense initiatives
The legislation retains standard provisions found in most continuing resolutions.
Those rules prohibit the use of temporary funding to launch new programs or enter into multiyear contracts. As a result, the Pentagon’s flexibility will remain limited until Congress approves full-year appropriations bills.
