Members voted 370-48 to pass a continuing resolution today, a tally that secured the two‑thirds majority needed to fast‑track the measure and keep federal funding in place through Dec. 11.
House passage, Senate origin, and presidential signature
The House approved the short‑term spending bill under a suspension of the rules, moving the continuing resolution (CR) forward by a 370‑48 margin. The measure originated in the Senate as a bipartisan deal and was passed there in August. It now goes to the desk of President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.
What the CR preserves for the Defense Department
For the Defense Department, the CR maintains funding for current weapons programs at fiscal 2026 levels and prevents the immediate operational and personnel disruptions that accompany a lapse in appropriations. The bill, lawmakers said, avoids a scenario in which civilians would be furloughed and troops would be required to work without pay.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R‑Okla., described the legislation on the House floor as “a clean, short‑term continuing resolution [that] simply keeps the government open, protects the progress we’ve made, and preserves the path to full‑year appropriations.” He added that the bill “protects our national security, providing funding for our armed forces and security agencies, as well as crucial authorities for core research and development programs to ensure our military remains the best armed and equipped services in the world.”
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See what we buildWhite House anomalies left out of the CR
The CR does not include most of the special funding exemptions — described in the source material as “anomalies” — that the White House requested on behalf of the Pentagon. Among the items left out of the stopgap:
- $1 billion for the Trump‑class battleship, which the White House said was needed “to begin advanced procurement of the nuclear propulsion system.”
- A request for language that would have allowed the Pentagon to obligate funding for five key munitions programs: the Patriot system’s PAC‑3 interceptor, the Tomahawk cruise missile, AMRAAM air‑to‑air missiles, and two different Standard Missile‑3 variants. The White House warned the department “may incur cancellation liabilities on multi‑year procurement contracts if it does not order the negotiated production quantities.”
- A request for language that would have exempted funding granted in last year’s reconciliation bill from sequestration. According to the White House, without that exemption about 8 percent of the unobligated reconciliation funds would be made unavailable when the new fiscal year starts on Oct. 1.
Instead of adopting those anomalies, the bill includes the boilerplate language common to many continuing resolutions that prohibits using CR funding to start new programs or to enter multiyear contracts.
Floor reactions from Democratic leaders
Democratic leaders on the House floor and in caucus meetings urged support for the CR. Rep. Pete Aguilar, the House Democratic Caucus chair, said during a press conference that he projected “broad bipartisan support” for the bill. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, encouraged members to vote yes during a caucus meeting the morning of the vote, Aguilar said.
Rep. Betty McCollum, ranking member of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, praised the CR for excluding funding the president had requested in a supplemental for “the war in Iran.” On the House floor she said, “I am very proud that this bill for the CR does not have funding that the president requested in his supplemental for the war in Iran, which was his war of choice.”
How the Defense Department, the White House, and servicemembers are affected
- Defense Department: Can continue to fund current weapons programs at fiscal 2026 levels and avoid immediate furloughs and pay interruptions, but cannot use CR dollars to start new programs or enter multiyear procurement contracts under the bill’s boilerplate restrictions.
- The White House: Did not secure most of the Pentagon anomalies it sought—requests that included the $1 billion battleship procurement start, expanded authority to obligate munitions procurement, and an exemption from sequestration for reconciliation funds. The administration warned of potential cancellation liabilities and cited an 8 percent sequestration impact without its requested exemption.
- Servicemembers and civilian personnel: Will avoid the immediate operational and personal disruptions tied to a lapse in appropriations—civilians would not be furloughed and troops would not be put in the position of working without pay during the period the CR covers.
The CR runs only until Dec. 11, and House leaders cast the measure as a bridge “to full‑year appropriations.” Whether Congress will resolve outstanding procurement and sequestration disputes—or adopt the White House’s anomaly requests—remains a question on the calendar set by that December cutoff.
