Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Leg. Branch, MilCon/VA Act, 2026
Nov 12, 2025
Nov 12, 2025
Summary
Provides money for government operations, including farming, veterans, and Congress, and keeps other federal programs running for a short time.
What problem does this solve?
Without new funding laws, many government agencies and programs would shut down at the start of the new fiscal year. This law gives money to several agencies for the full year and provides temporary funding for the rest of the government to prevent a shutdown.
Who does this affect?
- Federal government employees
- Veterans
- Farmers and agricultural businesses
What does this law do?
Provides temporary government funding
Keeps federal agencies not covered by other parts of this law funded at last year's levels until January 30, 2026, to avoid a government shutdown.
Reference
Text:
Header:
Division B—Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Rela
Funds agriculture and food programs
Provides full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture, rural development programs, and the Food and Drug Administration for fiscal year 2026.
Reference
Text:
Header:
Division D—Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropr
Funds military construction and veterans' care
Provides full-year funding for military construction projects and Department of Veterans Affairs programs for fiscal year 2026.
Funds the legislative branch
Provides full-year funding for the operations of the Senate, House of Representatives, and other legislative agencies for fiscal year 2026.
Prohibits federal employee layoffs
Prevents federal agencies from reducing their workforce through layoffs (reductions in force) while the temporary funding is in effect.
Extends key health programs
Continues funding for community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, and special diabetes programs until January 30, 2026.
Continues telehealth flexibilities
Extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities, such as removing geographic restrictions and allowing audio-only services, until January 30, 2026.
Changes the legal definition of hemp
Amends the definition of hemp to exclude certain synthetically-derived or intoxicating cannabinoid products, effective one year after enactment.
Prohibits funding for horse slaughter inspections
Prevents the use of federal funds to pay for inspections at horse slaughtering facilities, effectively banning the practice in the U.S.
What is the real world impact?
•
Avoids a government shutdown
Passing this temporary funding bill allows lawmakers to postpone difficult budget negotiations and avoid the political fallout of a government shutdown, even if it means kicking the can down the road.
•
Bundles popular and unpopular items together
Combines essential government funding with various program extensions and policy changes, forcing a single up-or-down vote. This makes it difficult for members to oppose specific parts without voting against funding for veterans or agriculture.
•
Provides stable funding for key sectors
Ensures that important government functions related to agriculture, veterans' care, military infrastructure, and the legislative branch have predictable, full-year funding to operate effectively.
When does this start?
Provides temporary government funding until January 30, 2026, while other parts of the law provide funding for the full fiscal year.
Continuing appropriations expiration
Temporary funding for many government agencies will stop on January 30, 2026, unless a new funding law is passed.
Full-year appropriations
Funding for Agriculture, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction/VA is provided for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.
Budget rescission report
The Office of Management and Budget must provide a list of cancelled funds to Congress by December 5, 2025.