WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders have introduced a short-term government funding measure that would extend federal funding through Dec. 4, seeking to reduce the risk of a government shutdown before the Sept. 30 fiscal deadline and provide additional time for Congress to complete annual spending bills.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Republican-controlled House is expected to consider the continuing resolution next week. The proposal would maintain most government funding at current levels without adding major policy provisions, according to the bill released by House appropriators.
Republican leaders said the early introduction of the measure is intended to prevent a funding lapse while allowing lawmakers to continue work on the 12 regular appropriations bills that finance federal agencies. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole said the legislation was designed to provide continuity for government operations as negotiations over full-year fiscal 2027 spending continue.
The House has advanced all 12 annual appropriations bills through committee and approved several on the floor, but the Senate has not completed comparable action, making it increasingly unlikely that Congress will finish the regular appropriations process before the current funding expires at the end of September.
Passage of the stopgap measure in the House is not assured. While Republicans hold the majority, the bill is expected to require broad GOP support, and any measure will ultimately need bipartisan backing in the Senate to clear the chamber and reach President Donald Trump's desk.
The proposal does not include the SAVE America Act, an election-related measure that some conservative Republicans have sought to attach to must-pass legislation. Omitting that provision could complicate efforts to secure support from some members of the party's right flank while potentially making the measure more acceptable to other lawmakers.
Government funding has been a recurring source of congressional brinkmanship in recent years, with lawmakers frequently relying on temporary spending bills when regular appropriations are not completed on time. Republican leaders have argued that acting months before the deadline will reduce uncertainty and avoid a shutdown during the final weeks before the November midterm elections.
The House is expected to vote on the continuing resolution next week, after which the measure would move to the Senate if approved.
