Key takeaways
- The federal government is funded through Dec. 11, 2026, under a continuing resolution signed Sept. 2.
- No FY 2027 appropriations bill has been enacted. The House has passed three of 12; the Senate had not acted on any as of early November.
- Congress returns after the midterm elections with about five legislative weeks to pass bills, extend the CR or risk a funding lapse on Dec. 12.
- Under a CR, agencies generally can't start new programs, which delays many new contracts and grant rounds.
Fiscal 2027 began Oct. 1, 2026, without regular appropriations. This tracker follows each bill and the deadlines that affect when agencies can buy.
The current deadline
- Funding runs through Dec. 11, 2026. The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (H.R. 6500, P.L. 119-103) passed the Senate 90-6 on Aug. 8 and the House 370-48 on Sept. 1, and was signed Sept. 2.
- It covers all 12 bills for 72 days. CBO projects it provides an annualized $1.701 trillion in discretionary budget authority.
- It extends some programs. Highway and transit contract authority is extended through Dec. 11, and OMB is blocked from implementing its proposed changes to federal grant rules during the CR.
Status of the 12 FY 2027 appropriations bills
| Bill | House committee | House floor | Senate | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture-FDA | Approved April 29 (35-25) | Passed June 4 (213-210) | No action | Under CR |
| Commerce-Justice-Science | Approved May 13 (32-28) | — | No action | Under CR |
| Defense | Approved June 24 (34-27) | — | No action | Under CR |
| Energy-Water | Approved May 20 (34-25) | — | No action | Under CR |
| Financial Services-General Government | Approved April 22 (34-28) | — | No action | Under CR |
| Homeland Security | Approved June 11 (34-27) | — | No action | Under CR |
| Interior-Environment | Approved June 3 (35-27) | — | No action | Under CR |
| Labor-HHS-Education | Approved June 9 (34-28) | — | No action | Under CR |
| Legislative Branch | Approved May 20 (34-28) | — | No action | Under CR |
| Military Construction-VA | Approved April 21 (58-0) | Passed May 15 (400-15) | No action | Under CR |
| National Security-State | Approved April 28 (35-27) | Passed July 15 (217-209) | No action | Under CR |
| Transportation-HUD | Approved June 3 (34-27) | — | No action | Under CR |
Sources: Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Appropriations Watch: FY 2027; Congressional Research Service, Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2027 (R49353); Steptoe and Holland & Knight appropriations updates, September and October 2026. All dates are 2026. The president's FY 2027 request totaled $1.814 trillion in base discretionary funding, compared with $1.622 trillion enacted for FY 2026, by CRFB's calculation.
What could happen by Dec. 11
- An omnibus or minibuses. Congress could combine some or all 12 bills into one or more packages, often with other year-end items.
- Another continuing resolution. A CR into January or March 2027 would keep agencies at current rates and delay new starts.
- A mix. Congress could enact some bills and extend the CR for the rest.
- A full-year CR. Funding would stay near FY 2026 levels for the rest of the fiscal year.
- A funding lapse. If nothing passes, agencies without appropriations would shut down starting Dec. 12.
What a CR or shutdown means for contractors
- No new starts. Under a CR, agencies generally can't launch new programs or increase production rates, so many new contracts and task orders wait.
- Award timing slips. Agencies often hold competitions and awards until full-year funding is clear, then rush to obligate later in the year.
- Funded work usually continues. In a shutdown, contracts funded with already obligated money can generally proceed unless they need federal staff or facilities.
- Stop-work orders. Agencies may stop unfunded or non-excepted work, and idle-time costs are generally not recoverable unless the contract or Congress provides for it.
- Payments and approvals slow. Invoices, modifications and security clearances can stall when contracting and finance staff are furloughed.
- Grants to states and cities. Formula grants largely continue at prior-year rates, but new competitive grant rounds are often delayed; see our grant deadlines calendar.
Recent funding history
- Fiscal 2026: a full shutdown from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, 2025, the longest on record at 43 days; a partial shutdown from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, 2026; and a later lapse in Homeland Security funding.
- Fiscal 2027: a CR enacted before Oct. 1 avoided a lapse at the start of the year and moved the deadline past the November elections.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. During CRs and funding uncertainty, we keep your pipeline moving by reaching program offices planning for full-year funding and state and local buyers with their own budgets. See how our federal sales development works.
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