House Republicans delivered a funding victory Tuesday, sending President Donald Trump a stopgap designed to prevent a shutdown.
The House approved H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, by an overwhelming 370-48 vote.
Lawmakers acted under suspension of the rules, an expedited procedure requiring two-thirds support for passage.
The tally included 193 Republicans, 176 Democrats, and one independent voting yes, while 48 opposed the measure.
The House agreed to Senate amendments, completing congressional action and sending the legislation directly to Trump’s desk.
The Senate had already approved its amended version on August 8 by an extraordinary bipartisan 90-6 margin.
The White House formally supports the measure, making presidential approval expected after the House vote.
H.R. 6500 prevents federal funding from expiring September 30, when fiscal year 2026 officially ends.
Most agencies would continue operating at current spending rates through December 11, unless full-year appropriations arrive sooner.
That approach gives Congress breathing room while preserving essential government operations through the November 3 midterm elections.
Republicans portrayed the measure as responsible governing instead of allowing a shutdown battle to consume Washington.
House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole said the legislation provides Americans stability while lawmakers finish full-year spending work.
“It gives the nation, and our constituents, certainty,” Cole said while urging lawmakers to support the compromise.
Cole emphasized that servicemembers, transportation security, Social Security, disaster assistance, nutrition programs, and national-security functions would continue.
The legislation generally prevents agencies from beginning new projects lacking funding or authority during fiscal year 2026.
It directs agencies toward limited funding actions, preserving congressional leverage over final fiscal year 2027 spending decisions.
Mandatory payments and Food and Nutrition Act programs continue at rates necessary to maintain benefits under existing law.
Agencies may adjust civilian personnel funding to avoid furloughs after first reducing or deferring non-personnel administrative expenses.
National-security provisions allow funding flexibility for Navy shipbuilding cost increases affecting carriers, submarines, destroyers, and other vessels.
Those authorities include hundreds of millions for Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs and additional naval procurement requirements.
The measure permits up to $2.853 billion for Defense-wide National Security Systems during the temporary funding period.
Justice Department flexibility covers legal operations, federal judicial security, Marshals Service protection, and certain FBI preparations.
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund may operate at rates necessary for response and recovery under federal disaster law.
Wildfire accounts across Interior and the Forest Service may likewise operate at rates necessary for suppression activities.
The National Flood Insurance Program receives a temporary extension through December 11, preventing another looming lapse in authority.
Essential Air Service operations also receive continued flexibility, protecting air connections serving smaller and rural American communities.
Veterans receive protections through extensions covering healthcare, mental-health assistance, rural ambulance reimbursement, housing, and homelessness programs.
The bill extends the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program through December 11.
It also continues assistance for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing during the temporary funding window.
Authorities supporting homeless veterans, disabled veterans, caregivers, adaptive sports, and VA transportation are likewise extended.
Surface transportation programs continue, extending federal highway and mass-transit authorities through December 11.
Highway Trust Fund programs receive proportional authorization for the extension period, preventing transportation funding disruptions.
The bill also extends the African Growth and Opportunity Act and related trade provisions through 2028.
That preserves qualifying African trade preferences, while the Haiti Economic Lift Program also receives an extension through 2028.
Customs user fees and merchandise-processing fee authority are extended through March 31, 2032.
Another provision temporarily limits application of newly enacted hemp restrictions until December 11.
The legislation also blocks a proposed OMB federal-grant rule from being issued or finalized during the continuing resolution.
Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse said the agreement “avoids a shutdown while maintaining current spending levels.”
The Trump administration called the legislation a “clean, short-term continuing resolution” and warned against another damaging shutdown.
OMB said the package supports veterans’ healthcare, benefits, housing, nutrition, and other obligations important to American families.
Congress still must finish appropriations or negotiate another funding package before the December 11 deadline.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
