Congress passed and the President signed into law the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs,  and Extensions Act of 2026 (H.R. 5371) this week. The legislation reopens the federal government after a record 43-day shutdown. The bill passed the Senate on November 10 by a vote of 60-40 and the House on November 12 by a vote of 222-209.

The legislation extends funding for most federal agencies through January 30, 2026. The bill fully funds the Departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs (VA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), military construction programs and the legislative branch for the remainder of this fiscal year which ends September 30, 2026. This extension means funding will be continued for SNAP, commonly called food stamps, through September 2026.  The deal reverses mass layoffs at federal agencies executed during the shutdown and bars any new reductions in force through January 30, 2026. The legislation extends authorizations for numerous programs that expired on September 30, including Medicare telehealth flexibilities and E-Verify immigration programs, until January 30, 2026.

This agreement ends the longest government shutdown in American history. Notably, it does not extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) Premium Tax Credits, which expire on December 31. While the Senate is expected to vote in December on extending the ACA subsidies, there is no language compelling the House to address the issue.

It is unclear how long it will take federal agencies to fully reopen and clear current backlogs. As you have throughout the shutdown, all faculty and staff who work with federal agencies through granting, student financial aid, international student support or in other capacities should continue to meet all deadlines in effect for your work, apply for future funding and appeal previous decisions where appropriate.

CU Leadership and the Office of Government Relations continue to closely monitor government actions as agencies resume operations with a focus on potential impacts to our campuses and will continue to communicate our priorities and mission to elected leaders. For more information regarding federal action please visit CU Office of Federal Relations.