Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for
FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
December 15, 2025
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R48765
SUMMARY
Overview of Continuing Appropriations for
FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
On November 12, 2025, the President signed into law H.R. 5371—the Continuing
Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and
Extensions Act, 2026—as P.L. 119-37. Division A of the act—the Continuing Appropriations
Act, 2026—provides continuing appropriations through January 30, 2026, for agencies funded
through nine of the 12 regular appropriations bills. Divisions B-D of the act each include one
regular, full-year appropriations act for FY2026, and Divisions E-H include various authorization
extensions and other legislative provisions. This report examines only Division A, the
“continuing resolution” (CR) portion of the act.
R48765
December 15, 2025
Drew C. Aherne,
Coordinator
Analyst on Congress and
the Legislative Process
The enactment of P.L. 119-37 ended a 42-day lapse in appropriations (a “funding gap”) lasting from October 1, 2025,
through November 11, 2025. As none of the regular bills had been enacted prior to the start of FY2026, agencies funded
through all 12 regular appropriations bills were required to cease operations of affected activities (a “government shutdown”),
except in certain situations when law authorizes continued activity.
For most programs, projects, and activities, the CR provides funding from November 12, 2025, through January 30, 2026 (an
80-day, or roughly 11.5-week, period) for agencies to continue operating at the rates, authorities, and conditions as provided
for in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (Division A of P.L. 119-4). The Congressional Budget Office
(CBO) estimates that the CR provides an annualized amount of $1.560 trillion in discretionary budget authority for FY2026.
In the event that one or more regular appropriations bills for FY2026, or an additional CR, are not enacted prior to the
expiration of this CR, then another funding gap would occur beginning on January 31, 2026, that could result in a shutdown
of most affected activities.
The CR includes several provisions related to the period of the funding gap. The act specifies that it provides coverage for the
entire period of the funding gap beginning on October 1, covers certain obligations incurred during it and provides for
reimbursements to states or other federal grantees for costs incurred during the gap that would have otherwise been paid by
the federal government. The CR also provides for backpay for federal workers for the period of the funding gap, reverses
reductions in force (RIFs) initiated during it, and prohibits certain RIFs from being initiated for the duration of the CR.
As has been typical with CRs, Division A of P.L. 119-37 includes several provisions that are specific to certain agencies,
accounts, or programs. These include provisions—known as “anomalies”—that establish exceptions to the general funding
and other provisions of the CR for certain accounts or activities, as well as provisions related to amending or extending
existing law. The section of this report titled “Agency-, Account-, and Program-Specific Provisions” summarizes each of
these provisions included in the CR.
CRS experts for the subject matters covered in this report are indicated throughout in the accompanying footnotes. Contact
information for these and other CRS appropriations experts can be found in CRS Report R42638, Appropriations: CRS
Experts.
For general information and historical data on CRs, see CRS Report R46595, Continuing Resolutions: Overview of
Components and Practices.
Congressional Research Service
Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Background and Legislative History ............................................................................................... 2
General Funding Provisions ............................................................................................................ 4
Coverage ................................................................................................................................... 4
Rate ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Duration .................................................................................................................................... 7
Federal Workforce Provisions ......................................................................................................... 7
Section 116—Backpay for Federal Employees .................................................................. 7
Section 120—Reductions in Force (RIFs) .......................................................................... 9
Agency-, Account-, and Program-Specific Provisions .................................................................. 10
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies ................................................................................................................................ 11
Section 121—Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services Program .......................... 11
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies ................................................................ 11
Section 101—Rescission and New Appropriation for the Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative................................................................................................................. 11
Section 122—Salaries and Expenses of the U.S. Marshals Service .................................. 11
Section 123—Extension of the U.S. Parole Commission .................................................. 11
Section 124—Closeout of Space Shuttle Contracts and Associated Programs................. 12
Section 125—Special Assessment Related to Human Trafficking Offenses .................... 12
Section 126—Extension of Certain Bankruptcy Fees....................................................... 12
Department of Defense ........................................................................................................... 12
Section 102—Prohibition on “New Starts,” Increased Production Rates, and
Certain Multi-Year Procurements .................................................................................. 12
Section 127—Ready Reserve Force ................................................................................. 13
Section 128—Air Force E-7 Wedgetail Rapid Prototyping .............................................. 13
Section 129—Transfer of Certain Unobligated Balances for Air Force E-7
Wedgetail Rapid Prototyping ......................................................................................... 13
Section 130—Defense Production Act Extension ............................................................ 13
Section 131—Apportionment for Various Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy
Programs ........................................................................................................................ 14
Section 132—Payments to the Government of Palau ....................................................... 14
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies .......................................................... 14
Section 101—FY2026 Appropriations Exceptions Regarding USACE Funding ............. 14
Section 133—Calfed Bay-Delta Program Management ................................................... 14
Section 134—National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) .................................. 15
Financial Services and General Government .......................................................................... 15
Section 101—District of Columbia Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and
Security Costs ................................................................................................................ 15
Section 135—Office of Personnel Management—Salaries and Expenses ....................... 15
Section 135—District of Columbia General Fund and Capital Budget ............................ 15
Section 137—Department of the Treasury Reception and Representation
Limitations ..................................................................................................................... 16
Section 138—Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Programs ............................. 16
Section 139—Department of the Treasury Office of Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence .................................................................................................................... 16
Congressional Research Service
Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
Section 140—Pay Freeze for Certain Political Appointees .............................................. 16
Section 141—Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC’s)
Whistleblower Authority................................................................................................ 16
Section 142—CFTC Salaries and Expenses ..................................................................... 17
Section 143—Supreme Court Security ............................................................................. 17
Section 144—The Judiciary—Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other
Judicial Services Defender Services .............................................................................. 17
Department of Homeland Security.......................................................................................... 17
Section 101—Exclusion of Section 1708 of the Full-Year Continuing
Appropriations Act, 2025............................................................................................... 17
Section 145—Extension of Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Program ....................... 18
Section 146—Extension of Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Reimbursable Screening Services .................................................................................. 18
Section 147—Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) CR Funding Availability ............................... 18
Section 148—Cybersecurity Authorization Extension ..................................................... 18
Section 149—Cybersecurity Information Sharing ............................................................ 18
Section 150—State and Local Cybersecurity Grants ........................................................ 19
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies............................................ 19
Section 101—Historic Preservation Fund......................................................................... 19
Section 151—Wildland Firefighter Pay ............................................................................ 19
Section 152—Wildfire Management ................................................................................ 19
Section 153—Indian Health Service ................................................................................. 20
Section 154—Water Grants, Environmental Protection Agency ...................................... 20
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related
Agencies ............................................................................................................................... 20
Section 155—Head Start in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic
of the Marshall Islands................................................................................................... 20
Legislative Branch .................................................................................................................. 21
Section 156—Gratuity Payments ...................................................................................... 21
Section 157—United States Capitol Police Mutual Aid Reimbursements ....................... 21
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs/National Security,
Department of State, and Related Programs ........................................................................ 21
Section 101—Enduring Welcome ..................................................................................... 21
Section 158—Development Finance Corporation Authority Extension ........................... 22
Section 159—Millennium Challenge Corporation Board................................................. 22
Section 160—European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ............................... 22
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies ............................. 22
Section 161—Tenant-Based Rental Assistance ................................................................ 22
Section 162– Essential Air Services ................................................................................. 22
Section 163—Motor Carrier Safety .................................................................................. 23
Contacts
Author Information........................................................................................................................ 23
Congressional Research Service
Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
Introduction
Congress makes decisions on discretionary spending through the annual appropriations process,
which currently involves the development and consideration of 12 regular appropriations bills for
each fiscal year.1 The regular appropriations bills provide funding for each fiscal year to support
the operations of most federal agencies and most of the programs, projects, and activities each
carries out. If regular appropriations are not enacted before the October 1 start of the fiscal year,
continuing appropriations may be enacted to provide temporary funding until appropriations for
the full fiscal year are enacted. Measures providing continuing appropriations are commonly
referred to as “continuing resolutions” (or CRs) because they have historically been enacted in the
form of a joint resolution. A funding gap occurs if the enactment of one or more of the regular
appropriations acts, or a CR, does not occur before the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1
or after the expiration of an existing CR.2 During a funding gap, affected agencies are legally
required to initiate a shutdown of most activities experiencing a lapse in funding.3
CRs have generally allowed agencies to continue operating for an interim period at a certain rate
of operations that has most often been based on the funding levels, authorities, and conditions
established in specified appropriations acts from the previous fiscal year. CRs have also typically
contained various provisions relating to the application and execution of the funding, including
provisions limiting agency operations in ways that preserve Congress’s ability to make full-year
funding decisions at a later point. Exceptions to the general funding, limitations, and other
provisions of a CR for certain accounts or activities—known as “anomalies”—have also often
been included in CRs, as have legislative provisions related to changing or extending existing
law.
On November 12, 2025, the President signed into law H.R. 5371—the Continuing
Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and
Extensions Act, 2026—as P.L. 119-37. Division A of P.L. 119-37—the Continuing Appropriations
Act, 2026—provides continuing appropriations through January 30, 2026, for agencies funded
through nine of the 12 regular appropriations bills. Divisions B-D of the act each include one
regular, full-year appropriations act for FY2026, and Divisions E-H include various authorization
extensions and other legislative provisions. The enactment of P.L. 119-37 ended a 42-day funding
gap lasting from October 1, 2025, through November 11, 2025, for agencies funded through all
12 regular appropriations bills.
According to an estimate prepared by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Division A of P.L.
119-37 provides a total annualized amount of $1.560 trillion in discretionary budget authority for
1
Congress distinguishes between two types of spending in the congressional budget process—discretionary spending
and mandatory (or direct) spending. Discretionary spending is defined in law (at 2 U.S.C. §900(c)(7)) as “budgetary
resources (except to fund direct-spending programs) provided in appropriation Acts.” Mandatory, or direct, spending is
defined in law (at 2 U.S.C. §900(c)(8)) as “(A) budget authority provided by law other than appropriation Acts; (B)
entitlement authority; and (C) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.”
For more on the appropriations process, see CRS Report R47106, The Appropriations Process: A Brief Overview, by
James V. Saturno and Megan S. Lynch.
2 For more on funding gaps, see CRS Report RS20348, Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview, by James V.
Saturno.
3 For more CRS resources on government shutdowns, see CRS Report R41723, Funding Gaps and Government
Shutdowns: CRS Experts, coordinated by Dominick A. Fiorentino and Clinton T. Brass.
Congressional Research Service
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
FY2026, including $1.466 trillion in “base” discretionary budget authority and $94.36 billion for
purposes that are effectively exempt from congressional budget enforcement rules.4
This report provides an analysis of the FY2026 CR included in Division A of P.L. 119-37. The
first section of the report (“Background and Legislative History”) provides a brief overview of the
FY2026 appropriations process, the funding gap lasting from October 1 through November 11,
and House and Senate consideration of H.R. 5371. The second section (“General Provisions”)
summarizes the general funding provided by the CR and provisions related to its application and
execution. The third section (“Federal Workforce Provisions”) explains provisions in the CR
related to backpay for federal employees and reductions in force (RIFs). The final section of the
report (“Agency-, Account-, and Program-Specific Provisions”) summarizes anomalies and other
legislative provisions related to particular agencies, accounts, or programs. CRS experts for the
subject matters covered in this report are indicated throughout in the accompanying footnotes.
Background and Legislative History
None of the regular appropriations bills for FY2026 had been signed into law by the start of the
fiscal year on October 1, 2025. Prior to October 1, the House Appropriations Committee had
reported its version of all 12 of the FY2026 regular appropriations bills, and the Senate
Appropriations Committee had reported its version of eight. The House and Senate had each
passed its version of three of the regular appropriations bills for FY2026 prior to October 1.5
H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, was introduced in the House
on September 16, 2025. Division A of the bill, as introduced, included a CR providing continuing
appropriations for all 12 regular appropriations bills through November 21, 2025. The House
passed H.R. 5371 on September 19, 2025, by a vote of 217-212.6 The measure failed on passage
twice in the Senate in the days leading up to October 1—once on September 19 and once more on
September 30.7
4 CBO, “Senate Amendment 3937 to H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch,
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026,” November 10, 2025, https://www.cbo.gov/
publication/61747.
Although the CR is effective through January 30, 2026, the cost estimate prepared by CBO provides an annualized
projection of discretionary budget authority in the CR (i.e., as if the measure provided funding through September 30,
2026). “Base” discretionary budget authority refers to budget authority that is constrained by (i.e., counts under)
statutory limits (or “caps”) on discretionary spending in years when such limits are in effect. Spending that is
“effectively exempt from budget enforcement rules” refers to appropriations for various purposes that are exempted
from certain budget enforcement rules and procedures under current law or congressional rules. For more on these
exemptions, see CRS Report R48387, Exemptions to the Fiscal Responsibility Act’s Discretionary Spending Limits, by
Drew C. Aherne and Megan S. Lynch.
5 The House passed H.R. 3944—the House version of the FY2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act—on June 25, 2025; H.R. 4016—the House version of the FY2026 Department of
Defense Appropriations Act—on July 18, 2026; and H.R. 4553—the House version of the FY2026 Energy and Water
Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act—on September 4, 2025. The Senate passed an amended
version of H.R. 3944 on August 1, 2025, that contained the Senate version of the FY2026 Military Construction,
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (Division A); Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (Division B); and Legislative Branch Appropriations
Act (Division C). On September 11, 2025, the House agreed by voice vote to a motion to disagree to the Senate
amendment to H.R. 3944 and request a conference. The Senate took no action on going to conference on H.R. 3944,
and all three FY2026 regular appropriations bills included in the measure were enacted in P.L. 119-37.
6 House Roll Call Vote 281, 119th Congress, https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/281.
7 On September 19, 2025, under the terms of a unanimous consent agreement, the Senate proceeded to floor
(continued...)
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
Because no regular or continuing appropriations for FY2026 had been enacted, a funding gap
began at midnight on October 1 that required agencies funded through all 12 regular
appropriations bills to commence a shutdown of most activities for which funding had lapsed.
The funding gap and resulting government shutdown continued from October 1, 2025, through
November 11, 2025, a 42-day period. Between October 1 and November 4, procedural votes to
proceed with the consideration of H.R. 5371 failed in the Senate on 12 occasions.8
On Sunday, November 9, 2025, the Senate Appropriations Committee posted on its website text
of an amendment to H.R. 5371 that, among other matters, included a CR for agencies funded
through nine of the regular appropriations bills through January 30, 2026, and full-year FY2026
appropriations for the other three regular bills.9 The Senate invoked cloture on the motion to
proceed to H.R. 5371 by a vote of 60-40 on the night of November 9.10 The Senate adopted the
amendment (S.Amdt. 3937) and passed the measure, as amended, on the morning of Monday,
November 10—each also by a vote of 60-40.11 The House passed the Senate-amended version of
consideration and a vote on passage of an alternative CR—S. 2882, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and
Other Matters Act, 2026. Under the same agreement, if S. 2882 was not agreed to, immediate consideration and a vote
on passage of H.R. 5371 would occur. S. 2882 failed Senate passage by a vote of 47-45 (Senate Roll Call Vote 527,
119th Congress, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00527.htm), and H.R.
5371 subsequently failed passage by a vote of 44-48 (Senate Roll Call Vote 528, 119th Congress,
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00528.htm). Under the unanimous
consent agreement, 60 affirmative votes were required for the passage of each bill. A second Senate vote on each
measure took place on September 30, 2025, under the same unanimous consent agreement. On these votes, S. 2882
failed passage by a vote of 47-53 (Senate Roll Call Vote 534, 119th Congress, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/
roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00534.htm) and H.R. 5371 failed passage by a vote of 55-45 (Senate Roll Call
Vote 535, 119th Congress, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00535.htm)
(60 affirmative votes required for passage).
8 Five procedural votes to proceed with the consideration of S. 2882 also failed from October 1 through October 9. The
Senate took no further action on S. 2882 after October 9.
9 Senate Appropriations Committee, “Bill Text: Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026,” November 9, 2025,
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/bill-text-continuing-appropriations-act-2026.
10 Senate Roll Call Vote 610, 119th Congress, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/
vote_119_1_00610.htm.
11 Senate vote to agree to S.Amdt. 3937—Senate Roll Call Vote 616, 119th Congress, https://www.senate.gov/
legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00616.htm. Senate vote to pass H.R. 5371, as amended—Senate
Roll Call Vote 618, 119th Congress, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/
vote_119_1_00618.htm.
S.Amdt. 3937 was an amendment in the nature of a substitute proposed by Majority Leader Thune for Senate
Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Collins that contained the legislative text published on the Senate
Appropriations Committee website on November 9. No other amendments to H.R. 5371 were adopted. An amendment
proposed by Majority Leader Thune for Sen. Paul—S.Amdt. 3941—related to striking a provision modifying the
definition of hemp for purposes of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 was tabled by a vote of 76-24. Senate Roll
Call vote 614, 119th Congress, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/
vote_119_1_00614.htm.
Majority Leader Thune “filled the amendment tree”—sequentially offering all amendments permissible to a measure
under applicable circumstances, thus preventing Senators from offering additional amendments—during the
consideration of H.R. 5371. (For more, see CRS Report RS22854, Filling the Amendment Tree in the Senate, by
Christopher M. Davis.) Two Senators made motions to table such amendments with the stated purpose of proposing
additional amendments. Sen. Baldwin made a motion to table S.Amdt. 3947 with the stated purpose of proposing
S.Amdt. 3950, relating to extending Affordable Care Act tax credits (Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 171, no.
190, pp. S8126-S8127). Sen. Merkley made a motion to table S.Amdt. 3946 with the stated purpose of proposing
S.Amdt. 3948, relating to the President’s power to propose rescissions to Congress (Congressional Record, daily
edition, vol. 171, no. 190, pp. S8127-S8128). Both motions failed by a vote of 47-53.
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
H.R. 5371 without amendment on November 12 by a vote of 222-209.12 The President signed the
measure into law as P.L. 119-37 later on November 12, thus ending the 42-day funding gap.
General Funding Provisions
Three components of CRs have generally defined the purpose, amount, and duration of
availability of the funds provided by such acts:
•
•
•
Coverage: A CR’s “coverage” refers to the purposes for which the measure
provides appropriations. Programs, projects, and activities funded by a CR have
typically been specified in reference to regular (and, occasionally, supplemental)
appropriations acts enacted for the previous fiscal year. When a CR references an
appropriations act and provides appropriations for the programs, projects, and
activities included in such act to be continued, the CR is often referred to as
“covering” that act.
Rate: CRs have typically funded programs, projects, and activities using a “rate
of operations” or “funding rate” to provide budget authority at a restricted level
without specifying a dollar amount. The rate of operations for CRs has most
often been based on the amounts, authorities, and conditions provided for in
covered appropriations acts from the previous fiscal year, unless specified
otherwise. The amount of budget authority available for specific programs,
projects, and activities under the general funding rate of a CR may be calculated
by prorating the total annualized amount of budget authority that would be
available under covered appropriations acts for the fraction of the fiscal year the
CR is in effect. The amount obligated over the duration of the CR may also be
affected by other factors—such as limitations imposed by the CR and anomaly
provisions—that can impact the amount of budget authority available to agencies
for certain purposes.
Duration: The “duration” of a CR refers to the period for which the measure
provides budget authority for covered purposes. CRs have typically provided
budget authority on an interim basis (i.e., a period of days, weeks, or months
ending prior to the end of the fiscal year). On occasion, CRs have been enacted
that provide continuing appropriations through the end of the fiscal year (known
as “full-year CRs”).
Coverage
The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, provides interim funding for nine of the 12 regular
appropriations bills through January 30, 2026. It generally provides funding for agencies to
continue operations at the same rate, authorities, and conditions for purposes “that are not
otherwise specifically provided for in this Act, that were conducted in fiscal year 2025, and for
which appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in the Full-Year Continuing
Appropriations Act, 2025 (Division A of P.L. 119-4).”13 The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations
12 House Roll Call Vote 285, 119th Congress, https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/285.
13 §101 of Division A of P.L. 119-37. This section includes language explicitly excluding the following provisions from
coverage under the CR: §1110, §1113, §1114, the proviso in paragraph (4) of §1602, §1708, and §1808 of Division A
of P.L. 119-4; §540 of Division C of P.L. 118-42 (as continued by Division A of P.L. 119-4); §110 and §112 of
Division D of P.L. 118-42 (as continued by Division A of P.L. 119-4); and §7069(b) of Division F of P.L. 118-47 (as
(continued...)
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
Act, 2025, was a full-year CR for FY2025 covering all 12 of the regular appropriations bills. It
provided appropriations at the level, authorities, and conditions as provided for in regular
appropriations acts enacted for FY2024, with certain deviations and exceptions.14 Consequently,
unless specified otherwise in either the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025, or
elsewhere in the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, the rate, authorities, and conditions
provided for in Division A of P.L. 119-37 are generally based on the following FY2024
appropriations acts:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024
(Division C of P.L. 118-42)
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 (Division A of P.L. 118-47)
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024
(Division D of P.L. 118-42)
Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2024 (Division
B of P.L. 118-47)
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024 (Division C of P.L.
118-47)
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2024 (Division E of P.L. 118-42)
Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 (Division D of P.L. 118-47)
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations
Act, 2024 (Division F of P.L. 118-47)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2024 (Division F of P.L. 118-42)
Divisions B-D of the act contain three regular appropriations acts for FY2026. These include the
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2026 (Division B); the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026
(Division C); and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2026 (Division D).
The CR does not specify that the rescissions—or cancellations of budget authority—enacted in
the Rescissions Act of 2025 (H.R. 4; P.L. 119-28) apply to the appropriations provided by the
continued by Division A of P.L. 119-4).
Section 1110 of Division A of P.L. 119-4 relates to emergency designations that no longer apply for FY2026 due to the
expiration of statutory discretionary spending limits under the Fiscal Responsibility Act (P.L. 118-5). (Section 114 of
the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, designates several provisions covered under the act as emergency
requirements or as being for disaster relief under the FY2022 budget resolution (§4001(a)(1) of S.Con.Res. 14),
“legislation establishing fiscal year 2026 budget enforcement in the House of Representatives,” or pursuant to “a
concurrent resolution on the budget.”) Section 1113 of P.L. 119-4 required specified agencies covered under the fullyear CR to submit spending, expenditure, or operating plans to the Appropriations Committees, and Section 1114
required the Office of Management and Budget to submit reports on obligations incurred under the measure to the
Appropriations Committees. Summaries for the other exceptions established in Section 101 can be found in the section
of this report titled “Agency-, Account-, and Program-Specific Provisions.”
14 For more on the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025, see CRS Report R48517, Section-by-Section
Summary of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (Division A of P.L. 119-4), coordinated by Drew C.
Aherne.
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
measure. It does, however, specify that certain rescissions enacted in covered appropriations acts
will generally continue to apply under the CR.15
The CR also specifies that it provides coverage for the period of the funding gap and certain
obligations incurred during it.16 The act establishes that it covers all obligations incurred during
the funding gap “for the purpose of maintaining the essential level of activity to protect life and
property and bringing orderly termination of Government function, and for purposes as otherwise
authorized by law.”17 It also provides for reimbursements to states or other federal grantees for
certain costs incurred during the funding gap that, but for the lapse in appropriations, would have
been paid by the federal government.18
Rate
In general, the CR provides “such amounts as may be necessary,” through January 30, for
agencies to continue operations at the same rate, authority, and conditions as provided for in the
Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025. This rate is based on actual amounts provided in
the FY2025 full-year CR, which were generally the level provided for in covered appropriations
acts from FY2024 unless specified otherwise. For civilian personnel compensation and benefits,
the CR allows agencies to apportion funds at the rate of operations necessary to avoid furloughs
but only after taking “all necessary actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related
administrative expenses.”19 For mandatory spending programs that receive funding through
appropriations legislation (known as “appropriated entitlements” or “appropriated mandatories”),
the CR provides budget authority “at the rate to maintain program levels under current law, under
the authority and conditions” provided in covered appropriations acts.20
As has been typical of interim CRs in recent practice, this CR also establishes several limitations
that may affect the amount of budget authority available to agencies for certain purposes. These
limitations are generally intended to limit agency obligations in a way that preserves Congress’s
ability to make final, full-year funding decisions for FY2026 at a later point. Unless specified
otherwise, for the duration of the CR, agencies are generally:
•
•
prohibited from initiating or resuming any program, project, or activity for which
funding was not provided in FY2025 (known as “new starts”)21;
prohibited from obligating funds for accounts that would otherwise spend or
distribute most or all of their funds at the beginning of FY2026, including
awarding grants that would “impinge on final funding prerogatives”22; and
15 §115 of Division A of P.L. 119-37.
16 Section 119 establishes that the time covered by Divisions A-D of the act “shall be considered to have begun on
October 1, 2025.”
17 §117 of Division A of P.L. 119-37.
18 §118 of Division A of P.L. 119-37. Such reimbursements apply “If a state (or another Federal grantee) used State
funds (or the grantee’s non-Federal funds) to continue carrying out a Federal program or furloughed State employees
(or the grantee’s employees) whose compensation is advanced or reimbursed in whole or in part by the Federal
Government.”
19 §112 of Division A of P.L. 119-37.
20 §111 of Division A of P.L. 119-37.
21 §104 of Division A of P.L. 119-37.
22 §109 of Division A of P.L. 119-37.
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•
limited to taking “only the most limited funding action” necessary to continue
existing programs, projects, and activities.23
Expenditures made by agencies under the CR will be charged to the applicable appropriation
account, fund, or authorization whenever the relevant regular appropriations bill for that account,
fund, or authorization is enacted.24 This means that amounts provided in any regular
appropriations acts enacted for FY2026 will be inclusive of, and not in addition to, amounts spent
by agencies under the CR.
Duration
Unless specified otherwise, the CR provides budget authority for covered programs, projects, and
activities through January 30, 2026—an 80-day period that began on November 12, 2025.25 The
funds made available and authority granted by the CR can be superseded by the enactment of
relevant regular appropriations bills for FY2026, or a new CR, prior to January 31, however.26 If
the applicable appropriations act for a given program, project, or activity is enacted prior to the
expiration of the CR, then, unless specified otherwise, any funding provided by the CR for such
program, project, or activity would become unavailable for obligation upon its enactment.
For mandatory spending programs funded through covered appropriations acts, the CR provides
the authority for agencies to continue payments that are required to be made through the
beginning of March 2026.27
Federal Workforce Provisions28
This section includes summaries of and background on provisions in the CR related to the federal
workforce. This includes Section 116, which relates to backpay for federal employees affected by
funding gap beginning on October 1, 2025, as well as Section 120 relating to RIFs.
Section 116—Backpay for Federal Employees
Section 116 authorizes backpay, in accordance with current law, for federal employees affected by
the lapse in appropriations that began on October 1, 2025. This includes federal employees who
were furloughed, as well as federal employees who were required to perform excepted work
activities during the lapse. It provides that, notwithstanding Section 106(1), the amounts made
available in Divisions A-D of P.L. 119-37 for personnel pay, allowances, and benefits in each
department and agency shall be available for payments under Title 31, Section 1341(c), of the
U.S. Code and that such payments shall be made.
23 §110 of Division A of P.L. 119-37.
24 §107 of Division A of P.L. 119-37.
25 §106 of Division A of P.L. 119-37.
26 Section 106 of the CR establishes that “appropriations and funds made available and authority granted pursuant to
this Act shall be available until whichever of the following first occurs: (1) The enactment into law of any
appropriation for any project or activity provided for in this Act. (2) The enactment into law of the applicable
appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026 without any provision for such project or activity. (3) January 30, 2026.”
27 Section 111(b) of the CR establishes that “obligations for mandatory payments due on or about the first day of any
month that begins after October 2025 but not later than 30 days after the date specified in section 106(3) [January 30,
2026] may continue to be made, and funds shall be available for such payments.”
28 The summaries in this section were authored by Barbara L. Schwemle, Analyst in American National Government.
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Brief Legislative History of Backpay Statute
P.L. 116-1,29 the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (S. 24), enacted on January
16, 2019, authorizes backpay to federal employees after a shutdown ends. S. 24 passed the Senate
without amendment by voice vote on January 10, 2019. Senator Benjamin Cardin had introduced
S. 24 on January 3, 2019, and he issued a press release upon its passage in the Senate.30 The
House of Representatives passed the bill under suspension of the rules on a vote of 411-7 the next
day.31
Section 2 of P.L. 116-1 amends the Antideficiency Act provisions codified at Title 31, Section
1341, of the U.S. Code by adding a new subsection (c), paragraph (1), which provides various
definitions, including that “the term ‘covered lapse in appropriations’ means any lapse in
appropriations that begins on or after December 22, 2018.” In their current form, paragraphs
(c)(1) and (2) appear as follows:
(2) Each employee of the United States Government or of a District of Columbia public
employer furloughed as a result of a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for the
period of the lapse in appropriations, and each excepted employee who is required to
perform work during a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for such work, at the
employee’s standard rate of pay, at the earliest date possible after the lapse in
appropriations ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates, and subject to the enactment of
appropriations Acts ending the lapse.
(3) During a covered lapse in appropriations, each excepted employee who is required to
perform work shall be entitled to use leave under chapter 63 of title 5, or any other
applicable law governing the use of leave by the excepted employee, for which
compensation shall be paid at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations
ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates.32
On January 23, 2019, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memorandum
titled Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019.33 The memorandum included an
attachment providing guidance on implementing the law.
OPM Guidance on Section 116
On November 12, 2025, OPM issued a memorandum titled, Employee Pay, Leave, Benefits, and
Other Human Resources Programs Affected by the Lapse in Appropriations.34 The memorandum
states that “OPM is committed to ensuring that retroactive pay is provided as soon as possible.” It
includes an attachment providing guidance on implementing the Section 116 provisions.
29 133 Stat. 3. The law is codified at Title 31, Section 1301 note, of the U.S. Code.
30 Senator Benjamin Cardin, “Cardin Bill to Protect Federal and Other Government Workers Hurt During Shutdowns
Passes Senate,” press release, January 10, 2019, https://web.archive.org/web/20200110201901/https://
www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-bill-to-protect-federal-and-other-government-workers-hurtduring-shutdowns-passes-senate.
31 Congress.gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/24. House Roll Call Vote 28, 116th
Congress, https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/201928.
32 133 Stat. 3-4. Section 103 of P.L. 116-5, January 25, 2019, inserted “and subject to the enactment of appropriations
Acts ending the lapse” (133 Stat. 11).
33 OPM, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, Memorandum CPM2019-4, January 23, 2019.
34 OPM, Employee Pay, Leave, Benefits, and Other Human Resources Programs Affected by the Lapse in
Appropriations, Memorandum CPM 2025-14, November 12, 2025, https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos/
employee-pay-leave-benefits-and-other-human-resources-programs-affected-by-the-lapse-in-appropriations/.
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Section 120—Reductions in Force (RIFs)
Section 120 provides various requirements related to RIFs in federal agencies. OPM defines a
RIF as the “[s]eparation of an employee from his or her competitive level, required by the agency
because of lack of work or funds, abolition of position or agency, or cuts in personnel
authorizations.”35 The statutory provisions on RIFs are codified at Title 5, chapter 35, subchapter
I, of the U.S. Code. The OPM regulations are prescribed at Title 5, part 351, of the Code of
Federal Regulations.
Subsection (a) provides that, notwithstanding Section 106(1), during the period between the date
of this act’s enactment (November 12, 2025) and the date specified in Section 106(3) (January 30,
2026), no federal funds may be used to initiate, carry out, implement, or otherwise notice a RIF to
reduce the number of employees within any federal department, agency, or office.
Subsection (b) provides that this prohibition shall apply to all civilian positions—whether
permanent, temporary, full-time, part-time, or intermittent—and without regard to the funding
source for such positions.
Subsection (c) provides that the prohibition shall not apply to (1) voluntary separations or
retirements; (2) actions necessary to comply with a court order; or (3) actions taken, beginning
only on the first day of a lapse in appropriations, necessary to implement or maintain an orderly
shutdown of government operations.
Subsection (d) provides that, for purposes of Section 120, the term reduction in force means
actions taken by an agency pursuant to Title 5, Sections 3501-3504 (Retention preference) or Title
5, Section 3595 (RIF in the Senior Executive Service), or any similar reduction of positions at any
federal department, agency, or office, unless such reduction has been provided for in this act.
Subsection (e) provides that, notwithstanding Section 106(1), any RIF proposed, noticed,
initiated, executed, implemented, or otherwise taken by an executive agency between October 1,
2025, and the date of enactment (November 12, 2025) shall have no force or effect. The
subsection further provides:
(1) Any employee who received notice of being subject to such a RIF shall have that notice
rescinded and be returned to employment status as of September 30, 2025, without
interruption. Such employees shall receive all pay to which they otherwise would have
been entitled in the absence of receiving such notice, including backpay in accordance with
section 116 of this Act.
(2) Within 5 days of the Act’s enactment date, each federal agency shall send a notice to
all affected employees and the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House
Committees on Appropriations of the withdrawal of the RIF notice and the affected
employee’s reinstatement, if applicable.
(3) The notices must include the reinstatement date and the amount of back pay, if
applicable.
35 OPM, “Glossary of Terms Used in Processing Personnel Actions,” in The Guide to Processing Personnel Actions, p.
35-11, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/data-analysis-documentation/personnel-documentation/processingpersonnel-actions/gppa35.pdf.
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OPM Guidance on Section 120
On November 13, 2025, OPM issued a memorandum titled Reduction in Force Actions Affected
by Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.36 The memorandum states that the act “includes
provisions that limit the use of reductions in force only through the period of the short-term
continuing resolution.” The memorandum further states:
The legislation provides that no Federal funds may be used to initiate, provide notice of,
carry out, or otherwise implement a reduction in force to reduce the number of Federal
employees during the period between the date of enactment and January 30, 2026. The Act
also requires agencies to rescind certain RIF notices and declares that certain RIF actions
taken between October 1, 2025 and November 12, 2025 have no force or effect. 37
It includes an attachment providing guidance “to assist agencies with complying with” the
provisions at Section 120.38 OPM also advises human resources offices at the agency
headquarters level to contact the OPM staff who are listed in the attachment for further assistance.
The guidance directed agencies to submit to OPM “confirmation that the agency has issued a
notice to rescind any RIFs that were noticed between October 1, 2025 and November 12, 2025,
no later than November 19, 2025.”39
Agency-, Account-, and Program-Specific Provisions
CRs lasting multiple weeks or longer have typically included provisions that are specific to
certain agencies, accounts, or programs. These include provisions—known as “anomalies”—that
establish exceptions to the CR’s general funding and other provisions for certain accounts or
activities. CRs have also included legislative provisions establishing new law or amending
existing law. These types of provisions have often related to renewing expiring provisions of law
or extending the scope of certain existing statutory requirements. Unless otherwise specified, such
provisions apply only for the duration of the CR.
Congress has often included anomalies and other legislative provisions at the request of the
President, who has typically submitted requested provisions to Congress ahead of an expected
CR.40 These requests have typically included a description of, or proposed bill text for, such
provisions, as well as explanations for why they are being requested. Congress can accept, reject,
modify, or take no action on provisions requested by the President during the development and
consideration of a CR. Congress may also develop additional provisions not requested by the
President for inclusion in a CR.
This section summarizes provisions in the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, that are agency-,
account-, or program-specific. The summaries are organized by the regular appropriations bills
that fund the agency, account, or activity the provision addresses. CRS experts authoring the
summaries in this section are identified in the accompanying footnotes.
36 OPM, Reduction in Force Actions Affected by Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, November 13, 2025,
https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/published-memos/reduction-in-force-actions-affected-by-continuing-appropriations-act2026/.
37 OPM, Reduction in Force Actions.
38 OPM, Reduction in Force Actions.
39 OPM, Reduction in Force Actions.
40 President Trump reportedly submitted requests for this CR to Congress on September 9, 2025. Connor O’Brien and
Katherine Tully-McManus, “White House Drops ‘Anomalies’ Request for Funding Exceptions as Shutdown Deadline
Looms,” Politico, September 9, 2025, https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/09/09/congress/text-of-white-houseanomalies-request-detailing-funding-exceptions-as-shutdown-deadline-looms-00553417.
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Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration,
and Related Agencies
Section 121—Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services Program41
Section 121 extends, through January 30, 2026, the authorization for the Forest Service to use
funds derived from certain conservation-related programs on National Forest System lands to
participate in the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services Program.
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Section 101—Rescission and New Appropriation for the Office of the U.S.
Trade Representative42
Section 101 discontinues a provision that had provided multiyear funding to the Office of the
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Per Section 101, funds previously available under Section
540 of Division C of P.L. 118-42 (as continued by Division A of P.L. 119-4) are not provided to
USTR for FY2026 under the CR. Previously, for FY2024, Section 540 of P.L. 118-42 rescinded
unobligated balances from USTR’s salaries and expenses account and from the Trade
Enforcement Trust Fund account and then appropriated “an amount of additional new budget
authority equivalent to the amount rescinded” to remain available for the same purposes through
FY2026. Under Section 540, these amounts were also designated by the Congress as an
emergency requirement pursuant to Section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. The FY2025 Continuing Appropriations Act (Division A
of P.L. 119-4), extended, in effect, this provision for FY2025.
Section 122—Salaries and Expenses of the U.S. Marshals Service43
Section 122 allows the U.S. Marshals Service to allocate funding provided by Section 101 of the
CR at a rate necessary to maintain program operations. This section also provides an additional
$30 million for the U.S. Marshals Service for FY2026 (which remains available until the end of
FY2027) to carry out protective operations. The U.S. Marshals Service provides protective
services for federal judges, jurors, and other members of the federal judiciary.
Section 123—Extension of the U.S. Parole Commission44
Section 123 extends the operations of the U.S. Parole Commission through January 30, 2026. The
authorities for the commission were scheduled to sunset on October 1, 2025. The enactment of
the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-473) ended parole for any federal offenders
convicted on or after November 1, 1987, and the commission’s authorities were to sunset on
October 31, 1992. However, federal prisoners sentenced before November 1, 1987, remain
eligible for parole, and the U.S. Parole Commission also makes release decisions for other
convicted offender populations, such as DC Code offenders. Absent transferring authority for
41 This section was authored by Anne A. Riddle, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy.
42 This section was authored by Keigh Hammond, Senior Research Librarian.
43 This section was authored by Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy.
44 This section was authored by Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy.
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making release decisions to another body, Congress has periodically extended the sunset date for
the commission’s authorities.
Section 124—Closeout of Space Shuttle Contracts and Associated Programs45
Section 124 allows the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to use appropriations that
have expired, but have not been cancelled, for the closeout of all Space Shuttle contracts and
associated programs. The act allows such amounts to remain available through FY2030 for valid
obligations incurred between FY2001 and FY2013. The Space Shuttle program concluded in
2011.
Section 125—Special Assessment Related to Human Trafficking Offenses46
Section 125 extends the requirement for federal courts to impose assessments under Title 18,
Section 3014(a), of the U.S. Code for the duration of the CR. Under Section 3014(a), federal
courts are required to assess a $5,000 penalty to any non-indigent individual or entity convicted
of offenses under chapter 77 (relating to peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons), chapter
109A (relating to sexual abuse), chapter 110 (relating to sexual exploitation and other abuse of
children), or chapter 117 (relating to transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes)
of Title 18 of the U.S. Code. The assessment also applies to those convicted under Section 274 of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §1324) (relating to human smuggling), unless the
person induced, assisted, abetted, or aided only an individual who at the time of such action was
the alien’s spouse, parent, son, or daughter (and no other individual) to enter the United States in
violation of law. The special assessment was set to expire on September 30, 2025.
Section 126—Extension of Certain Bankruptcy Fees47
Section 126 extends bankruptcy fees under Title 28, Section 1930, of the U.S. Code for the
duration of the CR. Section 1930 outlines fees parties must pay when filing bankruptcy in federal
courts. Under Section 1930(a)(6)(b)(i), parties are required to pay a quarterly fee to the United
States trustee in each open and reopened case under chapter 11 of Title 11 of the U.S. Code, other
than under subchapter V, for each quarter (including any fraction thereof) until the case is closed,
converted, or dismissed, whichever occurs first. The fee is the greater of 0.4% of disbursements
or $250 for each quarter in which disbursements total less than $1,000,000 and 0.8% of
disbursements but not more than $250,000 for each quarter in which disbursements total at least
$1,000,000. Prior to enactment of the CR, this fee was set to end on January 1, 2026.
Department of Defense48
Section 102—Prohibition on “New Starts,” Increased Production Rates, and
Certain Multi-Year Procurements
Section 102 is similar to provisions included in CRs in previous years. It prohibits the
Department of Defense (DOD) (which is “using a secondary Department of War designation,”
45 This section was authored by Rachel Lindbergh, Analyst in Science and Technology Policy.
46 This section was authored by Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy.
47 This section was authored by Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy.
48 The summaries in this section were authored by Cameron Keys, Analyst in Defense Logistics and Resource
Management Policy.
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under Executive Order 14347 dated September 5, 2025) from funding new or accelerated
production of certain items, projects, other activities and multiyear procurements. Section 102(a)
prohibits DOD from funding new starts—that is, the initiation of procurement or research and
development of an item for which funding was not provided in FY2025 or prior years.49 Section
102(a)(1) prohibits DOD from funding the “new production of items not funded for production in
fiscal year 2025 or prior years.” Section 102(a)(2) prohibits DOD from funding an acceleration in
“production rates above those sustained with fiscal year 2025 funds.” Section 102(a)(3) prohibits
DOD from funding the “initiation, resumption, or continuation of any project, activity, operation,
or organization … for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during
fiscal year 2025.” Section 102(b) prohibits DOD from funding the initiation of “multi-year
procurements utilizing advance procurement funding for economic order quantity procurement
unless specifically appropriated later.”50
Section 127—Ready Reserve Force
Section 127 allows the Navy to advance CR funds to the Maritime Administration of the
Department of Transportation for programs, projects, activities, and expenses related to the
National Defense Reserve Fleet.51
Section 128—Air Force E-7 Wedgetail Rapid Prototyping
Section 128 requires the Air Force to expend up to $199.7 million on “continued rapid
prototyping activities to maintain program schedule and transition to production for the E-7
Wedgetail program.” This amount matches the department’s FY2026 budget request for the
program.52
Section 129—Transfer of Certain Unobligated Balances for Air Force E-7
Wedgetail Rapid Prototyping
Section 129 requires DOD to transfer unobligated balances totaling $200 million from an Air
Force procurement account into an Air Force research and development account for the same
purposes specified in Section 128.
Section 130—Defense Production Act Extension
Section 130 extends congressional authorization of the Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C.
§4564) through January 30, 2026 (i.e., for the duration of the CR).53
49 For definitions of new start within the procurement and research, development, test, and evaluation appropriation
titles, see DOD, “Reprogramming of DOD Appropriated Funds,” Paragraph 4.1.5, September 2015,
https://comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/current/03/03_06.pdf.
50
Multiyear procurement is a contracting approach in which DOD uses a single contract to procure an item over
multiple years. For additional background and analysis on multiyear procurement, see CRS Report R41909, Multiyear
Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress, by
Ronald O'Rourke.
51 For more information on the National Defense Reserve Fleet and Ready Reserve Force, see the Merchant Ship Sales
Act of 1946, as amended, particularly 46 U.S.C. §57100.
52 For more information on DOD’s FY2026 budget request for the E-7 Wedgetail program, see Department of the Air
Force, Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget Estimates: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force, June 2025,
vol. 2, pp. 119-126.
53 For more information on Defense Production Act reauthorization, see CRS Insight IN12484, Reauthorizing the
Defense Production Act, by Adam G. Levin, Cameron M. Keys, and Alexandra G. Neenan.
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Section 131—Apportionment for Various Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy
Programs
Section 131 authorizes the Navy to allocate CR funds “up to the rate of operations necessary to
fund completion of prior year shipbuilding programs,” specifying particular programs and dollar
amounts for that purpose.
Section 132—Payments to the Government of Palau
Section 132 authorizes DOD to provide certain CR funds to the government of Palau “for land
acquisition costs for defense sites in Palau.”
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
Section 101—FY2026 Appropriations Exceptions Regarding USACE Funding54
Section 101 generally provides appropriations for covered appropriations acts at a rate for
operations as provided in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025. However, Section
101 of the FY2026 CR does not continue Sections 110 and 112 of the Energy and Water
Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 (Division D of P.L. 118-42, as
continued by Division A of P.L. 119-4). The following are summaries for Section 110 and 112 of
the FY2024 appropriations act:
•
•
Section 110 of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2024, directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
to reallocate unobligated Construction account funding provided by title IV of the
Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (Division B of P.L. 11743), to the same projects for which spend plan allocations were announced prior
to March 9, 2024.55
Section 112 of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2024, directed USACE to transfer certain unobligated funds
from USACE’s Construction, Mississippi River and Tributaries, and Operation
and Maintenance accounts to USACE studies that had previously received
Investigations funds from Title IV of Division B of the Bipartisan Budget Act of
2018 (P.L. 115-123) or Title III of Division J of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and had finalized feasibility cost sharing agreements as of
March 9, 2024.
Section 133—Calfed Bay-Delta Program Management56
Section 133 increases the authorization of appropriations for certain Bureau of Reclamation
activities under Section 103(f)(4)(A) of the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act (P.L. 108-361,
118 Stat. 1681) from $30.0 million to $32.6 million. This authority allows the Bureau of
Reclamation to expend funds on program management, oversight, and coordination of activities
related to ecological restoration and water management of the California’s Bay-Delta System.
54 This section was authored by Anna Normand, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy.
55 The provision also applies the terms and conditions to the reallocated funding as provided by Section 111 of the
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 (Division D of P.L. 118-42).
56 This section was authored by Charles Stern, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy.
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Activities under the broader Calfed program include levee protection, water quality, ecosystem
restoration, water use efficiency, and water-supply-related studies and projects.57
Section 134—National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)58
Section 134 provides that amounts made available by Section 101 in NNSA’s Weapons Activities
account may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain current operations
for the safe, secure transport of nuclear weapons and for notification to Congress on the executive
branch’s use of this authority.59
Financial Services and General Government
Section 101—District of Columbia Federal Payment for Emergency Planning
and Security Costs60
Section 101 discontinues a proviso in Section 1602(4) of Division A of P.L. 119-4 that provided
that $50 million of the additional $90 million provided under this heading for the District of
Columbia be used to address costs associated with the 2025 presidential inauguration.
Section 135—Office of Personnel Management—Salaries and Expenses61
Section 135 changes the balance within the OPM salaries and expenses account between funding
from general appropriations and funding transferred from retirement and insurance funds.
Specifically, for the duration of the CR, the general salaries and expenses are to be based on an
annual amount of $197.4 million compared to the $219.1 million provided in Division B of P.L.
118-47, and the amount transferred for administrative expenses are to be based on an annual
amount of $214.6 million compared to the $193.0 million provided in Division B of P.L. 118-47.
The overall amount provided to OPM is unchanged.
Section 135—District of Columbia General Fund and Capital Budget62
Section 136 grants congressional approval to the District of Columbia’s general fund and capital
budgets for FY2026. This approval is consistent with the requirement that Congress approve the
District’s annual budget under the District of Columbia Self-Government and Government
Reorganization Act (P.L. 93-198). This provision grants the District the authority to expend
locally raised funds for those programs and activities that received funding in the District’s
FY2024 appropriation. This provision also allows District officials to obligate locally raised funds
at the rate set forth in the District’s “Fiscal Year 2026 Local Budget Act of 2025” (D.C. Law 2651).
57 For more information, see CRS Report R45342, Central Valley Project: Issues and Legislation, by Charles V. Stern,
Pervaze A. Sheikh, and Erin H. Ward.
58 This section was authored by Anya Fink, Analyst in U.S. Defense Policy.
59 In the FY2026 anomalies request from September 2025, the Administration requested additional funding for NNSA’s
Security Transportation Asset Program Direction. The request stated, “Without the anomaly, NNSA would have to
curtail certain activities, threatening schedules for nuclear modernization and potentially disrupting deliveries to the
Department of Defense.”
60 This section was authored by Joseph V. Jaroscak, Analyst in Economic Development Policy.
61 This section was authored by Barbara L. Schwemle, Analyst in American National Government.
62 This section was authored by Joseph V. Jaroscak, Analyst in Economic Development Policy.
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
Section 137—Department of the Treasury Reception and Representation
Limitations63
Section 137 increases a limitation on Treasury spending for “official reception and representation
expenses” from $0.35 million to $1.35 million.
Section 138—Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Programs64
Section 138 authorizes the SBA to apportion funding provided by the CR at the rate necessary to
meet demand for commitments for several of its lending programs, including general business
loans authorized under paragraphs (1) through (35) of Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act,65
guarantees of trust certificates authorized by Section 5(g) of the Small Business Act,66
commitments to guarantee loans under Section 503 of the Small Business Investment Act of
1958,67 and commitments to guarantee loans for debentures under Section 303(b) of the Small
Business Investment Act of 1958.68
Section 139—Department of the Treasury Office of Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence69
Section 139 allows the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to operate at a rate of
operations of $237.7 million. Without this anomaly, the account would have operated at a rate of
operations of $226.9 million, the amount provided in FY2024.
Section 140—Pay Freeze for Certain Political Appointees70
Section 140 continues, through January 30, 2026, the freeze on the payable pay rates for the Vice
President and certain senior political appointees paid under the Executive Schedule and the
Senior Executive Service at Section 747 of Title VII of Division B of P.L. 118-47, as in effect on
September 30, 2024. The freeze does not affect the official rates for the Vice President and the
Executive Schedule, which are adjusted under normally applicable law.
Section 141—Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC’s)
Whistleblower Authority71
Section 141 extends the authority for the CFTC’s whistleblower program through January 30,
2026. The program was created by the Dodd-Frank Act to offer monetary incentives to
individuals reporting potential violations of the Commodity Exchange Act while providing anti-
63 This section was authored by Baird Webel, Specialist in Financial Economics.
64 This section was authored by Anthony Cilluffo, Analyst in Public Finance.
65 15 U.S.C. §636(a). For more information, see CRS Report R41146, Small Business Administration 7(a) Loan
Guaranty Program.
66 15 U.S.C. §634(g). These trust certificates are related to the secondary market for loans guaranteed by the SBA.
67 15 U.S.C. §697. For more information, see CRS Report R41184, Small Business Administration 504/CDC Loan
Guaranty Program.
68 15 U.S.C. §683(b). For more information, see CRS Report R41456, SBA Small Business Investment Company
Program.
69 This section was authored by Baird Webel, Specialist in Financial Economics.
70 This section was authored by Barbara L. Schwemle, Analyst in American National Government.
71 This section was authored by Rena Miller, Specialist in Financial Economics.
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
retaliation protections for these whistleblowers. The CFTC reports that its whistleblower program
has awarded approximately $390 million to whistleblowers since issuing its first award in 2014.72
Section 142—CFTC Salaries and Expenses73
Section 142 provides continuing funding in FY2026 for the CFTC under Financial Services and
General Government appropriations. For FY2025, the funding was contained in the Agriculture
appropriations act. (In the Senate, CFTC appropriations are under the Financial Services and
General Government subcommittee, while in the House they are under the Agriculture
subcommittee, and the location of funding alternates every year).
Section 143—Supreme Court Security74
Section 143 appropriates an additional $28 million for the protection of Supreme Court Justices.
This funding is available until expended.
Section 144—The Judiciary—Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other
Judicial Services Defender Services75
Section 144 allows this account to operate at a rate of operations of $1.56 billion. Without this
anomaly, the account would have operated at a rate of operations of $1.45 billion, the amount
provided in FY2024.
Department of Homeland Security76
Section 101—Exclusion of Section 1708 of the Full-Year Continuing
Appropriations Act, 2025
Section 101 specifically excludes Section 1708 of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act,
2025, from being carried forward by the CR. Section 1708 had offset the cost of $115 million of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s FY2025 Federal Assistance appropriation by
deriving it from unobligated balances of dam safety grants provided under P.L. 117-58, the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. All other Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
anomalies included in Division A of P.L. 119-4 continue under this CR.77
72 CFTC, “CFTC Whistleblower Program,”: https://www.whistleblower.gov/.
73 This section was authored by Baird Webel, Specialist in Financial Economics.
74 This section was authored by Barry McMillion, Analyst on the Federal Judiciary.
75 This section was authored by Barry McMillion, Analyst on the Federal Judiciary.
76 The summaries in this section were authored by William L. Painter, Specialist in Homeland Security Policy and
Appropriations.
77 These include Section 1701—Funding Changes: ICE, TSA, USCG, and FEMA, including the Disaster Relief Fund;
Section 1702—Polar Icebreaker Acquisition Fix; Section 1703—USCG Senior Enlisted Ratio; Section 1704—Secret
Service Premium Pay; Section 1705—USCG Towing Fee Collection; Section 1706—Unobligated Funds Rescission;
Section 1707—Nonrecurring Expenses Fund Rescission; and Section 1709—National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Reauthorization. For information on these sections, see CRS Report R48214, Overview of Continuing Appropriations
for FY2025 (Division A of P.L. 118-83), by Drew C. Aherne.
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Section 145—Extension of Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Program
Section 145 extends a joint authority for DHS and the Department of Justice to take action to
mitigate threats posed by unmanned aerial systems through the duration of the CR.78 The
authority, which had originally set to expire on October 5, 2022, has been serially extended
through CRs and appropriations measures. This provision was included in the Trump
Administration’s request for inclusion in a CR if no further extension had been made.
Section 146—Extension of Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Reimbursable Screening Services
Section 146 extends the authorization for TSA’s reimbursable screening services pilot program
for the duration of the CR. Under the pilot program, TSA can be reimbursed for providing
passenger screening services outside an airport’s existing primary screening area. The
Administration requested this provision in its list of appropriations anomalies for inclusion in a
CR.
Section 147—Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) CR Funding Availability
Section 147 provides that amounts made available by the CR for the DRF may be apportioned at
a rate for operations necessary to carry out response and recovery activities under the Stafford
Act. This anomaly ensures that up to $22.5 billion is available during the term of the CR to
support the federal government’s disaster response and recovery activities associated with
disasters in the event the DRF’s existing carryover balances are obligated. Section 147 is not a
supplemental appropriation—all obligations made with this budget authority will count against
whatever annual appropriation may be provided for the DRF for FY2026. This anomaly was
included in the request from the Administration, and similar anomalies have been enacted via
CRs each year since FY2018.
Section 148—Cybersecurity Authorization Extension
Section 148 extends the authorization for the National Cybersecurity Protection System (NCPS)
for the duration of the CR. Initially provided under the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
of 2015, the authority allows DHS to help defend federal agencies from cyberthreats. The act
included a specific termination seven years after enactment. Since 2022, the system has been
extended through CRs and regular appropriations measures. This provision was included in the
Administration’s request for inclusion in a CR if no further extension had been made.
Section 149—Cybersecurity Information Sharing
Section 149 extends the authorization for the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015
through the duration of the CR. The act authorizes sharing of appropriate cybersecurity
information between federal and nonfederal entities, defensive cybersecurity activities, liability
protections, and oversight. The original authority was to expire on September 30, 2025. This
provision was included in the Administration’s request for inclusion in a CR if no further
extension had been made.
78 6 U.S.C. §124n.
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Section 150—State and Local Cybersecurity Grants
Section 150 extends the authorization for cybersecurity grants under the State and Local
Cybersecurity Improvement Act for the duration of the CR.79 These grants help fund state, local,
and tribal government efforts to develop, implement, and revise cybersecurity plans and address
immediate cybersecurity threats. The original authority was to expire on September 30, 2025.
This provision was included in the Administration’s request for inclusion in a CR if no further
extension had been made.
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Section 101—Historic Preservation Fund80
Section 101 excludes from coverage under the CR a provision of the FY2025 full-year CR (P.L.
119-4, Division A, Section 1808). That provision provided for the availability, through September
30, 2026, of funds appropriated in FY2018 (in P.L. 115-123) to the Historic Preservation Fund
account of the National Park Service.81
Section 151—Wildland Firefighter Pay82
Section 151 applies a waiver of certain statutory limitations on premium pay for specified federal
employees engaged in emergency wildland fire suppression activities for the duration of the CR.
Federal law generally caps the amount of premium pay federal employees may earn.83 Beginning
in 2021, various laws waived this particular cap for federal employees engaged in emergency
wildfire suppression activities, subject to certain conditions.84
Section 152—Wildfire Management85
Section 152 allows amounts made available by the CR to the U.S. Forest Service and to the
Department of the Interior for wildland fire management to be apportioned up to the rate for
operations necessary for wildfire suppression activities. Suppression is the work associated with
79 P.L. 11-58, Division G, Title VI, Subtitle B.
80 This section was authored by Mark K. DeSantis, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy.
81 Specifically, the provision in the FY2025 full-year CR (Section 1808) allows any state historic preservation offices
that were allocated emergency supplemental funding as part of P.L. 115-123 to make payments, through September 30,
2026, on funds obligated during the two-year period of availability ending on September 30, 2019. For more
background information and legislative context on this provision, see pages 13-14 of CRS Report R48214, Overview of
Continuing Appropriations for FY2025 (Division A of P.L. 118-83), by Drew C. Aherne. For additional information on
historic preservation, see CRS Report R45800, The Federal Role in Historic Preservation: An Overview, by Mark K.
DeSantis; and CRS Report R47543, Historic Properties and Federal Responsibilities: An Introduction to Section 106
Reviews, by Mark K. DeSantis.
82 This section was authored by Anne A. Riddle, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy.
83 5 U.S.C. §5547(a).
84 5 U.S.C. §5547 Note, “Premium Pay Waiver for Certain Employees Engaged in Emergency Wildland Fire
Suppression Activities.” For 2021-2024, this authority was provided by P.L. 117-43, Section 1701, as amended by P.L.
117-103, Section 601; P.L. 117-328, Section 440; and P.L. 118-42, Section 438. CRS was unable to determine how the
premium pay waiver may be applied to applicable wildland firefighter pay in 2025 prior to October 1, 2025.
85 This section was authored by Anne A. Riddle, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy.
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
extinguishing or confining a fire, and suppression appropriations are used primarily for wildfire
response.86
Section 153—Indian Health Service87
Section 153 provides funding, in addition to amounts appropriated in Section 101, at a total rate
of operations of $80.3 million for two Indian Health Service accounts. It permits these funds to be
apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to staff and operate facilities that were opened,
renovated, or expanded in FY2025 or FY2026.
Section 154—Water Grants, Environmental Protection Agency88
Section 154 designates up to $54 million of the funding for certain Safe Drinking Water Act water
system grants provided in P.L. 117-328, Division N (Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations
Act, 2023) to be made available for states declared to be federal disaster areas in August 2022.
This grant program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provides
resources to states or publicly owned water treatment systems to assist in responding to and
alleviating any emergency situation affecting public water systems which the EPA administrator
determines to present substantial danger to the public health.89 Section 154 designates the money
as an emergency requirement.
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education,
and Related Agencies
Section 155—Head Start in the Federated States of Micronesia and the
Republic of the Marshall Islands90
Section 155 establishes a Head Start base grant level of $8 million apiece for the Federated States
of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In March 2024, the Compact of Free
Association Amendments Act of 2024 (P.L. 118-42, Division G, Title II) amended the Head Start
Act to authorize the reestablishment of Head Start programs in these jurisdictions. However,
under the amendments, funding was to be provided only “if a base grant has been established
through appropriations.” Head Start base grants are the amount of “permanent ongoing funding”
provided to a Head Start agency for a fiscal year (i.e., base grants exclude one-time funds not
expected to continue in the future).91 Section 155 establishes base grants for these jurisdictions,
effectively allowing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to allot a portion of
Head Start funding to agencies in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the
Marshall Islands. The provision does not increase Head Start appropriations overall to cover the
amount of these base grants, so allotting funds to these jurisdictions could potentially reduce
funds available for certain other Head Start activities.
86 For additional information on appropriations for wildland fire management, see CRS In Focus IF13102, Funding for
Wildfire Management: FY2025 Appropriations for Forest Service and Department of the Interior, by Anne A. Riddle.
87 This section was authored by Elayne J. Heisler, Specialist in Health Services.
88 This section was authored by Angela C. Jones, Specialist in Environmental Policy.
89 For additional information on Safe Drinking Water Act grants, see CRS Report RL31243, Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA): A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements, by Elena H. Humphreys.
90 This section was authored by Karen E. Lynch, Specialist in Social Policy.
91 42 U.S.C. §9835(a)(7)(A).
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Legislative Branch92
Section 156—Gratuity Payments
Section 156 provides three gratuity payments to the beneficiaries of deceased Members of the
House. A gratuity equal to one year’s salary has long been given to the heirs or beneficiaries of
Members of Congress who die in office.93 The payment is generally included in the next
legislative branch, supplemental, or continuing appropriations act following the death.
Section 157—United States Capitol Police Mutual Aid Reimbursements
Section 157 provides an additional $30 million, to remain available until expended, for “Capitol
Police—United States Capitol Police Mutual Aid Reimbursements.”
This amount is in addition to up to $10 million that may be transferred to “Capitol Police—
United States Capitol Police Mutual Aid Reimbursements” on September 30, 2026 (and, once
transferred, remain available until September 30, 2030), from other funding provided to the
Capitol Police in this act (P.L. 119-37, Division C, Title I, §119). The explanatory statement for
the FY2026 legislative branch appropriations act provides information on the program and
transfer authority, stating94:
Mutual Aid Transfer Authority.—The Committees reaffirm support for the Department’s
mutual aid program, which funds large-scale event preparation and reimburses State and
local law enforcement for Member protection off Capitol grounds. Additional transfer
authority is provided to replenish the mutual aid account, emphasizing its importance amid
heightened threats. Unused year-end funds should be reallocated to support the
Department’s mission, including the mutual aid fund.
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs/National Security, Department of State, and Related
Programs95
Section 101—Enduring Welcome
Section 101 provides that Section 7069(b) of the FY2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs appropriation act (as continued by the FY2025 full-year CR) shall not apply under the
CR. This provision established the ‘‘Enduring Welcome Administrative Expenses Account’’ and
authorized the transfer of funds into the account for the relocation and support of individuals at
risk as a result of the situation in Afghanistan.
92
The summaries in this section were authored by Ida A. Brudnick, Specialist on the Congress.
93 For the Senate, see Floyd M. Riddick, Riddick’s Senate Procedure: Precedents and Practice, S.Doc. 101-28, 101st
Cong., 2nd sess. (GPO, 1992), p. 1254, which footnotes Congressional Record debate from 1892; and U.S. Senate,
United States Senate Handbook, p. I-92. For the House of Representatives, see Clarence Cannon, Cannon’s Precedents
of the House of Representatives of the United States (GPO, 1935-1941), vol. VI, p. 380; and Lewis Deschler,
Deschler’s Precedents of the United States House of Representatives, vol. II, H.Doc. 94-661, 94th Cong., 2nd sess. For
additional information, see CRS Congressional Distribution Memorandum, Gratuity Payments for Members of
Congress Who Die in Office: Historical Practice, available to congressional requesters.
94 Available at https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/lba_divcjes.pdf.
95 The summaries in this section were authored by Cory Gill, Analyst in Foreign Affairs, and Marian Lawson, Section
Research Manager.
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2026 (Division A of P.L. 119-37)
Section 158—Development Finance Corporation Authority Extension
Section 158 extends the authorities of the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to
Development Act of 2018, which established the U.S. International Development Finance
Corporation (and would otherwise have lapsed on October 5, 2025) through, at the latest, January
30, 2026.96
Section 159—Millennium Challenge Corporation Board
Section 159 extends the term of a member of the board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation,
whose term began on September 16, 2019, to serve in such appointment until December 31, 2026,
and provides for the immediate termination of such member’s term if a new member of the board
is appointed under specified authorities before December 31, 2026.97
Section 160—European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Section 160 amends the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Act to authorize the
U.S. governor of the bank to subscribe on behalf of the United States up to 40,000 additional
shares of the paid-in capital stock of the bank and authorizes the appropriation, without fiscal year
limitation, of $437.5 million for this purpose.
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related
Agencies
Section 161—Tenant-Based Rental Assistance98
Section 161 allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development to use unobligated
balances from specific set-asides within the tenant-based rental assistance account to meet
renewal needs in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program as necessary to prevent the
termination of assistance to current program participants due to insufficient funding. This
anomaly was requested by the Administration, which contended that without this anomaly,
resources may be inadequate to sustain housing vouchers for up to 40,000 families.99
Section 162– Essential Air Services100
Section 162 provides that amounts made available by the CR for the Department of
Transportation’s Essential Air Service program, funded by the Office of the Secretary’s Payments
to Air Carriers account, may be apportioned at a rate necessary to maintain program operations.
96 For more information, see CRS In Focus IF11436, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), by
Shayerah I. Akhtar and Nick M. Brown.
97 For more information, see CRS In Focus IF12850, Millennium Challenge Corporation, by Nick M. Brown.
98 This section was authored by Maggie McCarty, Specialist in Housing Policy.
99 See O’Brien and Tully-McManus, “White House Drops ‘Anomalies’ Request.”
100 This section was authored by Jennifer Marshall, Analyst in Transportation Policy.
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Section 163—Motor Carrier Safety101
Section 163 extends the termination date for the motor carrier safety advisory committee, as
initially established by the Motor Carrier Safety Reauthorization Act of 2005102 through the
duration of the CR. The authorization was last extended—through September 30, 2025—in
December 2022 by P.L. 117-286.
Author Information
Drew C. Aherne, Coordinator
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
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copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
101 This section was authored by Jennifer Marshall, Analyst in Transportation Policy.
102 Title IV, Section 4144 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users,
P.L. 109-59.
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