With just 11 legislative days scheduled between now and the end of Fiscal Year 2025, a partial government shutdown or a continuing resolution appears likely. Some in Congress are already advocating for a full-year CR to fund Fiscal Year 2026, which begins on October 1, 2025, although House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) would prefer a CR that expires by Thanksgiving.

The government is currently running on a continuing resolution that expires on September 30.

Prior to leaving for the August recess, Republicans in Congress passed the Trump Administration’s recissions package over loud objections from Democrats, which claws back $9.4 billion the body had previously appropriated – approximately $8.3 billion in foreign aid, and $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). As a result, the CPB, which supports more than 1,500 locally owned and operated public radio and television stations across the country, such as the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), announced in an August 1 press release that it will “begin an orderly wind-down of its operations.” Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought said additional recission packages to rescind more congressionally appropriated funds are likely in the future.

The administration appears to be following through with another recissions package, notifying Congress last week of plans to cancel another $4.9 billion in funds previously appropriated by Congress for foreign aid. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) intends to utilize this “pocket recission” by the end of Fiscal Year 2025, over the objections of disgruntled Democrats who argue that effort would undermine ongoing bipartisan spending negotiations.

“With the Trump administration’s attempt of the so-called ‘pocket recission,’ it is clear that Republicans are prioritizing chaos over governing, partisanship over partnership, and their own power over the American people,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). OMB defended the cuts as an attack on “woke, wasteful and weaponized spending.” Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled this week that the pocket recission attempt is illegal and ordered the funds to be dispersed. The Trump administration immediately issued plans to appeal the ruling.

Further complicating matters is a clash between Democrats and President Trump over confirmations for nominations for various posts. Democrats are demanding that Trump remove a freeze on more than $1 billion in funds already appropriated, primarily to the National Institutes of Health.

Republicans have slim majorities in both the House and Senate, in addition to control of the White House, and will have a handful of weeks to keep the federal government operating upon Congress’ return to Washington, D.C.

Despite inflammatory rhetoric, the Senate did approve its first three spending bills for Fiscal Year 2026 before leaving for its August recess. The chamber approved a package funding Military Construction-VA and the Department of Agriculture by a vote of 87-9 and a bill funding the legislative branch by a vote of 81-15.

“It’s taken a great deal of work, good faith and negotiation to get to this point,” said Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME. “Congress has a responsibility, a constitutional responsibility under Article I, for the power of the purse. We are executing that responsibility.”

The House has passed three appropriations bills: Military Construction-VA, Defense, and Energy-Water. The Energy bill passed on September 4 by a vote of 214-213 on a vote that was held open long enough after the clock ran out for two members to change their votes to “Yes.”

Since both the House and Senate have passed their initial versions of the Military Construction-VA full-year funding bill, that measure appears to be the most likely vehicle to serve as a partial spending patch. Agriculture and Legislative branch spending could be attached as part of a package with a short-term CR. House Republicans would bring that package to the floor during the week of September 15.

We will keep FMA members apprised on all Fiscal Year 2026 updates.