After a 43-day government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—Congress and President Trump reached an agreement to reopen the federal government on November 12, 2025. While this sounds great, a look under the hood tells a much different story. Let’s dive in.
What Got Funded Through September 2026
Congress passed three full-year appropriations bills that provide complete funding through the end of fiscal year 2026 (September 30, 2026):
- Agriculture and Food Programs
- Full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/food stamps)
- USDA programs and the Food and Drug Administration
- Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
- Construction projects on military bases
- Veterans' healthcare and benefits programs
- Legislative Branch
- Operations of Congress itself
- U.S. Capitol Police ($852 million)
- Enhanced security for members of Congress ($203.5 million)
In short, Congress approved to feed its constituents, to care for its veterans and servicemembers and to pay and protect themselves…
What's Still Temporary (Through January 30, 2026)
The remaining nine appropriations bills are operating under a "continuing resolution"—essentially funding at current levels—until January 30, 2026. These include:
- Defense - Military operations and personnel spending
- Homeland Security - Border security, FEMA, TSA, and immigration enforcement
- Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education - Medicare/Medicaid administration, NIH, CDC, Department of Education programs
- Commerce, Justice, and Science - FBI, federal courts, NASA, NOAA, and the Census Bureau
- Transportation and Housing - FAA, highway funding, public housing, and community development
- Energy and Water Development - Department of Energy, nuclear programs, and water infrastructure
- Interior and Environment - National parks, EPA, and environmental programs
- Financial Services and General Government - Treasury Department, IRS, and federal building operations
- State and Foreign Operations - State Department, foreign aid, and embassy operations
What This Means
Congress essentially kicked the can down the road. They have until January 30 to negotiate and pass the remaining nine spending bills—or face another potential shutdown. This means we'll likely see renewed budget battles in Washington early in the new year.
What Didn't Get Resolved
One significant issue left unaddressed: enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of 2025. While the Senate promised a vote on extending these subsidies by mid-December, there's no guarantee they'll pass. This could mean higher health insurance premiums for over 20 million Americans starting in 2026.
The Bottom Line
The government is back open and essential services have resumed. Federal employees are being paid again, and programs like food assistance are fully operational. However, with nine of twelve spending bills still unresolved, we can expect another round of budget negotiations—and potential uncertainty—come late January.
Questions about how government funding decisions might affect your financial planning? We're here to help you navigate these developments and their potential impact on your retirement and investment strategy.