Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026

Key Points

• Congress passed a law to keep the government running and provide a full year of funding for several major areas, including farming, the military, and veterans' services. This prevents a government shutdown by providing temporary money for most agencies until January 30, 2026, while setting permanent budgets for others.
• The plan puts billions of dollars into veterans' healthcare, specifically focusing on mental health, suicide prevention, and treatment for those exposed to toxic chemicals during their service. It also extends programs that help homeless veterans find housing and ensures they can continue using telehealth for doctor visits.
• The policy funds major food programs like WIC and SNAP to help families afford groceries and provides money for healthy school lunches. It also extends the current rules for farm programs for another year, which helps farmers with insurance and conservation programs to protect their land.
• Small towns and rural areas will see investments in high-speed internet, clean water systems, and local hospitals. The bill includes special grants to help rural communities save energy and lower their utility costs through new professional support programs.
• The law keeps community health centers open and extends several Medicare and Medicaid programs that were set to expire. It also updates rules for over-the-counter drugs and changes the legal definition of hemp to better regulate products that might have similar effects to marijuana.
• To keep the government stable, the law bans federal agencies from laying off workers or reducing the size of their staff while this temporary funding is in place. It also requires that any iron or steel used in rural water projects be made in the United States to support local manufacturing.

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