Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026
Summary
What This Bill Does
This continuing appropriations bill keeps the federal government funded through January 30, 2026, generally at fiscal year 2025 rates and under the same authorities and conditions. It is not a clean stopgap: it adds targeted exceptions for civilian pay, food programs, United States Marshals protective operations, Navy shipbuilding, the E-7 aircraft program, Small Business Administration loan demand, FEMA disaster response, cybersecurity authorities, health extenders, and Veterans Affairs accounts.
The bill also creates a major federal workforce rule for the funding window. Federal funds may not be used to initiate, carry out, implement, or notice a reduction in force, and employees who received reduction-in-force notices during the covered period must be reinstated with back pay.
Who Benefits and How
Federal employees benefit directly because section 120 blocks reductions in force during the continuing-resolution period and requires reinstatement with back pay for covered employees. Federal departments, agencies, and government corporations also receive operating authority to continue projects and activities at the prior-year rate instead of shutting down unfunded programs.
Navy shipbuilding contractors, defense shipyards, and defense aviation contractors benefit from anomalies allowing higher apportionment rates for carrier, submarine, destroyer, and E-7 Wedgetail work. Small businesses benefit because the Small Business Administration Business Loans Program Account may be apportioned at a rate needed to meet increased loan-guarantee demand. FEMA disaster-response recipients benefit because the Disaster Relief Fund can be apportioned at the rate needed for Stafford Act response and recovery.
Agricultural producers, SNAP-authorized retailers, WIC beneficiaries, school meal programs, rural borrowers, not-for-profit utilities, tribal governments, and bison producers benefit from continued Agriculture division funding and targeted restrictions on implementing certain rules. Veterans benefit through continuing VA medical, benefits, construction, and information-technology funding; the Veterans Benefits Administration and VA IT accounts receive specific account treatment. Community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, teaching health centers, low-volume hospitals, Medicare-dependent hospitals, and public-health preparedness programs benefit from extensions tied to the January 30, 2026 date.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal agencies bear the operational burden of running under a continuing resolution: they generally cannot start new projects, increase production rates, or spend in ways that lack fiscal year 2025 authority unless a specific anomaly allows it. OMB, agency heads, appropriations staff, and federal budget offices must manage apportionments, notifications, rate limits, spending plans, and covered employee reinstatement.
Agency construction offices and construction contractors on federal projects face Davis-Bacon and project-funding constraints where the bill continues or limits existing authority. Healthcare providers, Medicare contractors, Medicaid administrators, and health-plan beneficiaries face uncertainty where the bill extends programs only through January 30, 2026 rather than providing a full-year policy settlement. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of keeping operations open and funding targeted anomalies such as United States Marshals protective operations, Supreme Court security, Navy shipbuilding completions, SBA loan guarantees, and FEMA disaster response.
Key Provisions
- Continues federal projects and activities at fiscal year 2025 rates through January 30, 2026.
- Blocks federal reductions in force during the funding window and requires reinstatement with back pay for covered employees.
- Authorizes higher apportionment rates for Navy shipbuilding completions and transfers $200 million for the E-7 aircraft program.
- Expands Small Business Administration loan-guarantee capacity to meet increased demand.
- Allows FEMA Disaster Relief Fund spending at the rate needed for Stafford Act response and recovery.
- Extends cybersecurity authorities under the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act and Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act.
- Continues WIC, SNAP-related, school meal, rural utility, tribal bison, and USDA grant or contract authorities under targeted Agriculture provisions.
- Extends community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, teaching health centers, low-volume hospitals, Medicare-dependent hospitals, and national health security authorities through the stopgap date.
- Directs VA account treatment for Veterans Benefits Administration, medical care, construction, and information technology operations.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Continues federal funding through January 30, 2026, preserves selected expiring authorities, blocks reduction-in-force activity during the funding window, and adds targeted anomalies for defense, agriculture, VA, health, cybersecurity, disaster, and small-business programs.
Key Policy Areas
Appropriations, Federal Workforce, Agriculture, Defense, Veterans, Health
Primary Purpose
Continues federal funding through January 30, 2026, preserves selected expiring authorities, blocks reduction-in-force activity during the funding window, and adds targeted anomalies for defense, agriculture, VA, health, cybersecurity, disaster, and small-business programs.
Policy Domains
whole_bill
Identified Gains
- Federal employees
- Federal departments receiving continuing appropriations
- Navy shipbuilding contractors
- Defense aviation contractors
- Small businesses using SBA loan guarantees
- FEMA disaster-response recipients
- WIC beneficiaries
- SNAP-authorized retailers
- Veterans Benefits Administration account
- Community health centers
- Low-volume Medicare hospitals
- Federal cybersecurity programs
Identified Costs
- Office of Management and Budget
- Federal agency budget offices
- Agency construction offices
- Construction contractors on federal projects
- Healthcare providers
- Medicaid administrators
- Federal taxpayers
Legislative Progress
Signed into LawBecame Public Law No: 119-37.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without …
On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment …
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House …
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 873, the House proceeded …
Mr. Cole moved that the House agree to the Senate …
Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 873, Mr. Cole moved …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
ABMC, AFRH, AFRH Trust Fund
Arlington National Cemetery, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, FDA, Federal agencies, Federal departments, Food and Drug Administration, Library of Congress, Members of Congress, USDA face effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: AFRH Trust Fund, APHIS, ARS laboratory employees, Agricultural Marketing Service, Agricultural Research Service, Agricultural advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces of the Department of Agriculture, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, All federal agencies, All federal agencies under CR, All federal departments and agencies, American Battle Monuments Commission, Architect of the Capitol, Armed Forces Retirement Home, Army, Army National Guard, Army National Military Cemeteries, Army Reserve, BRAC program, Bankruptcy courts, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, Board of Veterans Appeals, CISA, Capitol Child Development Center, Capitol Police, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Combined DoD-VA medical facilities, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Congressional Budget Office, Congressional Research Service, Congressional employees, Congressional interns, Congressional offices, Congressional offices and staff, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Defense agencies, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Services, Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture, Departments and agencies with potential furloughs, District of Columbia government, DoD-VA Health Care Sharing programs, Economic Research Service, FDA Center for Tobacco Products, FEMA disaster response, FSIS, FSIS inspection staff, Farm Service Agency IT programs, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Grain Inspection Service, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Federal agencies administering entitlements, Federal agencies implementing appropriations, Federal agencies involved in horse inspection and regulation, Federal agencies under CR, Federal agencies with essential operations, Federal agency oversight, Federal cybersecurity agencies, Federal employees, Federal entities providing cybersecurity assistance to the House of Representatives, Federal government, Federal programs funded in Divisions B-D, Federal programs funded in this Act, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of the Marshall Islands, Foreign Agricultural Service, Foreign military financing recipients, Forest Service, GAO, Government Publishing Office, Government agencies providing enhanced-use lease services, Government of Palau, House of Representatives, Institute for Rural Partnerships, Intelligence Community, Joint DoD-VA Medical Facilities, Legislative Branch, Marine Corps, Military construction programs, Military departments, Millennium Challenge Corporation, NASA, NATO infrastructure projects, NIFA, NRCS, National Cemetery Administration, National Guard, Naval Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Personnel Management, Office of Resolution Management, Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, Alternative Dispute Resolution function within the Office of Human Resources and Administration, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Persistent poverty counties and county seats with population up to 110% of authorized limit, Programs authorized under Public Law 117-25, Projects and activities provided for in this Act, Public housing authorities, Reserve forces, Rural Community Facilities Program Account, Senate, Senate offices, Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, Space Force, State Department and intelligence operations, State and local transportation agencies, State governments, States and Federal grantees, Supreme Court of the United States, Transportation Security Administration, Treasury Department, Tribal governments, U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, U.S. Parole Commission, U.S. Trustee Program, US Capitol Police, US International Development Finance Corporation, US Marshals Service, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA Agricultural Research Service laboratories, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Grain Inspection, USDA Loan Programs, USDA OIG, USDA Office of General Counsel, USDA Risk Management Agency, USDA Rural Development, USDA Rural Housing Service, USDA agencies, USDA agriculture policy working group, USDA agriculture programs, USDA conservation programs, USDA facilities, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Treasury, VA, VA Construction projects, VA EHR program, VA Facilities, VA IT modernization, VA IT systems, VA Information Technology Systems, VA Inspector General, VA Medical Facilities construction and maintenance, VA Medical Services and Community Care, VA benefits processing, VA major construction projects, VA medical facilities, VA medical facility improvements, VA medical programs, VA medical support, VA minor construction projects, VA oversight/investigations, VA programs with extended authorities, VA rehabilitation counselors, VA staffing levels, VA vocational rehabilitation counselors, VA whistleblowers and employees, Veterans Affairs Department, Veterans Crisis Line staff, WIC State Agencies, Watershed and flood prevention programs, Wildfire suppression operations
Negative-direction: Agencies and departments funded under this title, Agencies of the executive branch, Agencies or offices within the Department of Agriculture, Agencies subject to this Act, Agencies under Section 503(c) of title 38, United States Code, All agencies funded under this title, All departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States Government, All federal agencies and departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture agencies, Department of Agriculture personnel involved in section 32 programs, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Defense overseas basing, Department of Treasury, Department of the Treasury, Departments and agencies funded in fiscal year 2026, DoD and VA programs, Employees of agencies funded by this Act, Executive branch agencies, Executive branch personnel involved in budget preparation, Farm Service Agency, Federal agencies funded by this Act, Federal agencies receiving appropriations, Federal agencies seeking new programs, Federal agencies with rescinded TAFS, Federal entities and officials receiving funds, Federal law enforcement agencies, Federal programs subject to risk assessment requirements, Food aid recipient nations, Government Accountability Office, Government agencies, Government construction agencies, HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement, House of Representatives Chief Administrative Officer, House of Representatives Members, committees, officers, and employees, Legislative branch agencies, Military base operations, Military installations and bases, National Institute of Food and Agriculture—Research and Education Activities, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field offices, Programs with high initial rates of operation or complete distribution at the beginning of fiscal year 2026, Projects or activities without funding in fiscal year 2025, Rural Development mission area field offices, Secretary of Agriculture, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture staff offices and agencies, USDA Agricultural Research Service, USDA Disaster Assistance, USDA Office of Inspector General, USDA Working Capital Fund, USDA vehicle operations, VA administration, VA budget operations, VA construction programs, VA healthcare facility employees, Veterans Affairs construction projects
Air Force families, All persons except specified groups, Army families
Positive-direction: Air Force families, All persons except specified groups, Army families, Communities at risk of wildfire, DC residents and services, Disabled veterans, Disaster-affected communities, Domestic violence survivors with pets, Entitlement beneficiaries, Entitlement program beneficiaries, Filipino WWII veterans and families, Filipino veterans, General public (pandemic preparedness), General public seeking government transparency, Heirs of deceased Members of Congress, Homebuyers purchasing VA-foreclosed properties, Homeless veterans, Homeless veterans with special needs, Homeless women veterans and veterans with children, Intended food aid beneficiaries, International food aid recipients, Low-income families, Low-income mothers and children, Low-income veterans at risk of homelessness, Medicare beneficiaries, Mentally ill veterans, Military families, Military families near closed bases, Military homeowners affected by base closures, Navy families, Private property owners, Rural affordable housing residents, Rural communities, Rural communities with ARS facilities, Rural homebuyers, Rural low-income renters, SNAP recipients, School children receiving meals, School food authorities with negative balance in nonprofit school food service account as of June 30, 2025, Service-connected disabled veterans needing nursing home care, Single service members, Special diabetes programs, Trafficking victims, Veteran survivors, Veterans, Veterans affected by school closures, Veterans appealing claims, Veterans at risk of suicide, Veterans experiencing crisis, Veterans exposed to toxic substances, Veterans needing long-term care, Veterans needing prosthetics, Veterans receiving VA care, Veterans receiving medical care, Veterans seeking benefits and healthcare, Veterans seeking healthcare, Veterans using VA hospitals, Veterans with VA-backed mortgages, Veterans with disabilities, Veterans with mental health conditions, Veterans with prior year claims, Visitors with disabilities, Women veterans, Youth public health
Negative-direction: Federal grantees, Higher-income veterans, Higher-income veterans using VA care, Public health advocates, Transgender veterans, Women veterans seeking reproductive care
Ambulance service providers, Assistive technology providers, Clinical laboratories providing Medicare services
Positive-direction: Assistive technology providers, Community healthcare providers, Department of Health Services, Federally Qualified Health Centers in Alaska and Indian Tribes/Tribal organizations under the Alaska Native Health Compact, Indian Health Service facilities opened, renovated, or expanded in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, Joint DOD-VA healthcare programs, Joint DoD-VA medical facilities, Low-volume rural hospitals, Medicare hospice providers, Medicare providers, National Quality Forum, Physicians in low-cost geographic areas, Prescribing health professionals, Rural healthcare facilities, Rural mental health providers, State veterans homes, Suicide Prevention Outreach Programs, Suicide prevention grant recipients, VA healthcare facilities, VA medical centers, VA medical facilities, Veterans Affairs healthcare providers
Negative-direction: Clinical laboratories providing Medicare services, Entities subject to VA IG oversight, Healthcare professionals prescribing drugs subject to section 503(b)(1), Healthcare providers subject to quality measures, Hospice providers, Medicare Improvement Fund, Medicare program, Public health advocates, Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Health Administration programs with specific purpose funds in fiscal year 2025, Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs)
Agricultural commodity producers, Agricultural commodity programs, Agricultural commodity suppliers
Positive-direction: Agricultural commodity producers, Agricultural commodity programs, Agricultural commodity suppliers, Agricultural exporters, Agricultural producers, Agricultural programs under the Agricultural Act of 2014 (except titles I and subtitle A of title III), Agricultural programs under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and related laws, Agricultural research institutions and programs, Agricultural researchers, Beginning farmers and ranchers, Bison producers, California agricultural water users, Christmas tree growers, Commodity crop producers, Cotton producers and ginners, Dairy industry, Entities subject to reporting requirements under the specified acts, Farm borrowers, Farmers, Farmers affected by natural disasters, Farmers and ranchers, Farmers implementing conservation practices, Farmers with flooded lands, Farms and food producers, Foreign entities involved in agricultural land transactions, Grain elevators and exporters, Grain producers and exporters, Hawaii coffee growers, Hemp growers and processors, Organic farmers seeking certification, Rural agricultural producers with energy projects, Specialty crop producers (fruits, vegetables, nuts), US agricultural commodity exporters, US agricultural land interests, US meat producers, USDA grantees
Negative-direction: Coffee producers and sellers in Hawaii, Farmers using conservation programs
Covered veterans (veterans with service-connected disabilities resulting in infertility), Disabled Veterans residing temporarily with family members, Filipino veterans and their families
Positive-direction: Covered veterans (veterans with service-connected disabilities resulting in infertility), Disabled Veterans residing temporarily with family members, Filipino veterans and their families, Homeless veterans with special needs, Native American veterans, Rural veterans, State veterans homes, VA patients, Veterans and service members at joint facilities, Veterans and service members at shared facilities, Veterans at risk of suicide, Veterans in vocational rehabilitation, Veterans needing transportation to VA facilities, Veterans owed prior year benefits, Veterans receiving benefits, Veterans receiving compensation and benefits, Veterans residing in the Philippines, Veterans seeking home loans, Veterans with disabilities, Veterans with pending appeals, Women Veterans
Negative-direction: VA Information Technology Systems account, Veterans Benefits Administration account, Veterans with non-service-connected disabilities seeking hospital care or medical services
Architecture and Engineering Firms bidding on projects in Japan, NATO member countries, or Gulf bordering countries, Capitol construction contractors, Construction contractors
Defense construction contractors faces effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: Construction contractors, Department of Defense branches and accounts specified in section 4601 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2026, Disaster recovery contractors, Military construction contractors, Military construction oversight contractors, Military construction projects requiring family housing, Military construction projects with expired or lapsed funds, Military demolition contractors, Military housing contractors, Road construction contractors, Rural housing developers, VA construction contractors, VA healthcare facility construction contractors, VA medical facility construction contractors
Negative-direction: Architecture and Engineering Firms bidding on projects in Japan, NATO member countries, or Gulf bordering countries, Capitol construction contractors, Construction contractors on federal projects, Contractors working with the Architect of the Capitol, Foreign contractors bidding on U.S. military construction projects in specified territories and countries, Government contractors bidding for construction projects exceeding $25,000 in cost estimates
Companies producing genetically engineered animals approved before February 19, 2019, OTC Monograph Drug Facilities and Contract Manufacturing Organization Facilities, OTC drug industry
OTC drug manufacturers faces effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: Companies producing genetically engineered animals approved before February 19, 2019, OTC drug manufacturers and sponsors, Over-the-counter (OTC) drug manufacturers, Pharmaceutical and biodefense contractors, Pharmaceutical and medical device companies paying user fees, Pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturers, Pharmaceutical companies planning Rx-to-nonprescription switch applications, Pharmaceutical manufacturers, Pharmaceutical manufacturers of oral antivirals
Negative-direction: OTC Monograph Drug Facilities and Contract Manufacturing Organization Facilities, Researchers submitting exemption requests under section 505(i) or section 351(a)(3)
Catfish processors, Child Adult Care Food Program, Chinese poultry and seafood exporters
Food additive manufacturers faces effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: Establishments subject to FSIS inspection requirements, Food and supplement companies, Food manufacturers, Food manufacturers and distributors, Food manufacturers using PHOs, Regulated entities under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, Restaurants, US poultry and seafood producers, Wild-caught catfish processors
Negative-direction: Child Adult Care Food Program, Chinese poultry and seafood exporters, Foreign meat exporters, Horse slaughter facilities, Meat and poultry processing plants, National School Lunch Program, Non-Hawaii coffee blenders, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children
On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026
On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5371
H.R. 5371, As Amended
On the Cloture Motion H.R. 5371
Motion to Invoke Cloture: H.R. 5371, As Amended
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3937 to H.R. 5371 (No short title on file)
Collins Amdt. No. 3937
On the Cloture Motion S.Amdt. 3937 to H.R. 5371 (No short title on file)
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Collins Amdt. No. 3937
On the Motion to Table S.Amdt. 3941 to S.Amdt. 3937 to H.R. 5371 (No short title on file)
Motion to Table Paul Amdt. No. 3941
On the Motion to Table S.Amdt. 3946 to S.Amdt. 3945 to H.R. 5371 (No short title on file)
Merkley Motion to Table Amdt. No. 3946
On the Motion to Table S.Amdt. 3947 to S.Amdt. 3946 to S.Amdt. 3945 to H.R. 5371
Baldwin Motion to Table Amdt. No. 3947
On the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Upon Reconsideration, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Upon Reconsideration: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Upon Reconsideration, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Upon Reconsideration, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Upon Reconsideration, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 5371
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371
On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5371
Upon Reconsideration, H.R. 5371
On Passage
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026
On Motion to Recommit
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026
On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5371
H. R. 5371
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "omb"
- → Office of Management and Budget
- "agency_heads"
- → Federal agency heads
- "secretary"
- → Relevant department Secretary
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
The January 30, 2026 stopgap date used for continuing appropriations and several temporary extensions.
A federal workforce reduction action that the bill bars agencies from initiating, carrying out, implementing, or noticing during the covered period.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology