House Passes Stopgap Measure to Fund Government Through December

<p>On September 2, 2026, the House of Representatives passed a stopgap measure to continue funding the US government through early December. The measure requires the signature of President Trump, who is expected to sign it to prevent a government shutdown before the midterm elections.</p><p>This approach has been common in recent years due to challenges in garnering political support for a full year's budget in advance. Internal dissent within the House's Republican caucus hindered their ability to agree on their own funding measure, leading to the adoption of a version of the spending bill that had previously passed the Senate.</p><p>For scientists and their supporters, this adoption is seen as beneficial. The Senate's budget bill, passed in early August, includes a provision that prevents the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from implementing new rules that would grant political appointees full control over scientific funding and the ability to cancel grants at any time. This proposed rule has faced significant opposition from scientific and health-focused organizations.</p>