Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026 This bill provides continuing FY2026 appropriations for federal agencies, permanently extends the expanded premium tax credit for purchasing health insurance, provides additional funding for Medicaid and security for federal officials, and extends various expiring programs. Specifically, the bill provides continuing FY2026 appropriations to federal agencies through the earlier of October 31, 2025, or the enactment of the applicable appropriations act. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise occur if the FY2026 appropriations bills have not been enacted when FY2026 begins on October 1, 2025. The CR funds most programs and activities at the FY2025 levels with several exceptions that provide funding flexibility and additional appropriations for various programs. For example, the CR provides additional funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and security for federal officials. In addition, the CR permanently extends provisions that expanded the premium tax credit, which generally reduces premiums for health insurance purchased through a health insurance exchange; repeals health care provisions that were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including provisions that reduced Medicaid funding; authorizes the District of Columbia to spend local funds at the rates included in its FY2026 local budget; extends the availability of certain funds that are being withheld by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); and limits the authority of OMB to withhold appropriations. Finally, the bill extends several expiring programs and authorities, including programs related to health care, veterans, homeland security, and agriculture.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- families in the WIC nutrition programSection 120 funds WIC at a rate for operations of $8,200,000,000 instead of the flat continuing rate, about $603 million more than the level enacted for the same account the year before, so the program is funded to keep serving women, infants and children at current caseload.
- households buying marketplace health coverage who earn more than four times the poverty levelSection 2142 removes the income cutoff that made them ineligible for Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, so they can qualify for help paying premiums starting with tax year 2026.
- public broadcasting stationsSection 154 appropriates $490,960,000 to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on top of the flat rate, to be paid out within three days of enactment.
- people served by homeless-assistance programs and families holding housing vouchersSection 166 requires HUD to renew every expiring Continuum of Care grant and youth homelessness project for another 12 months without competition, and Section 165 lets voucher money be used so families do not lose rental assistance after a short 2025 funding cycle.
- federal judges, Supreme Court Justices and members of CongressSections 128, 129, 144, 145 and 160 add $326.5 million for protective details, residential security systems, state-office security, and security work at courthouses and the Capitol.
- federal civilian employeesSection 113 lets agencies apportion enough pay and benefits money to avoid furloughs, after they first cut or defer non-personnel administrative costs.
- researchers and institutions running NASA, NSF and NOAA missions, laboratories and awardsSections 123, 124 and 125 require those missions, research facilities, cooperative institutes and existing scientific awards to be kept at their current operating level during this period.
- American Indian and Alaska Native patients at Indian Health Service facilitiesSection 151 adds $80,315,000 to staff and run facilities that were opened, renovated or expanded in 2025 and 2026.
Who it burdens
- the White House budget office and federal agenciesSections 111, 117, 118, 119, 135 and 143 take away discretion over when and whether appropriated money is released, add reporting duties to Congress, switch off the Energy Department's authority to move money between programs, and place a new Inspector General over the budget office.
- the Department of DefenseSection 102 bars it from starting new production, raising production rates above 2025 levels, or entering new multi-year procurement deals while this Act is in effect, and Section 132 bars any funds from being used to pause or cancel the E-7 Wedgetail program.
Who backs it
- federal taxpayersSection 101 and the additional appropriations in this Act are paid out of money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
- the Medicare Improvement Fund and leftover 2022 highway and 2024 fair-housing balancesSection 2120 cuts that fund from $1,804,000,000 to $1,033,000,000, and Sections 164 and 167 permanently cancel those leftover balances so equivalent amounts can be re-appropriated.
Who opposes it
- the President's authority to withhold, delay or cancel money Congress has appropriatedSection 119 permanently voids part of the impoundment law and bars deferring funds during their final 90 days, Section 116 drops the requirement that the President also designate an emergency, and Section 111 blocks acting on funding changes the budget request proposed but Congress has not enacted.