House passes short-term funding bill to avert government shutdown

Jul 21, 2026

The U.S. House passed a short-term funding bill 220-205 to avert a government shutdown, extending funding until Dec. 4. The measure now faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Republicans plan to modify it to include administration priorities and win Democratic votes. House Democrats largely opposed the bill, citing a lack of bipartisan input and funding shortfalls. A government shutdown remains possible if the chambers cannot agree.

House CR passage

▪House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole said Republicans were acting early to prevent "a manufactured shutdown" by Senate Democrats.
▪The U.S. House of Representatives passed a short-term funding bill on July 21, 2026, to fund federal agencies through December 4.
▪The continuing resolution passed by a vote of 220-205, with one Republican joining most Democrats in opposition and six Democrats supporting it.
▪The measure is intended to avert a government shutdown before the November midterm elections, as current funding expires on September 30.

Senate Republican concerns

▪The House-passed bill is unlikely to be the final version, as Senate Republicans plan to modify it to gain Democratic support.
▪Senate Republicans have complained the House bill lacks "anomalies," or spending adjustments, requested by the Trump administration for critical priorities.

Democratic opposition

▪House Democratic leaders opposed the bill, calling it a "premature and desperate attempt by Republicans to abdicate their responsibility to govern."
▪Democrats raised concerns about funding shortfalls for public housing and wildland fire suppression, and the lack of reforms for the Border Patrol.

Reconciliation threat

▪Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned that Republicans could use the budget reconciliation process to fund the government if bipartisan talks fail.
▪Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, an appropriator, expressed opposition to using the partisan reconciliation process for regular government appropriations.
▪Passing a separate budget resolution would unlock the reconciliation tool, allowing Republicans to pass a funding bill with a simple majority in the Senate.