After 43 days, Congress has reached an agreement to reopen the federal government. The deal will temporarily fund most federal programs at current levels through a continuing resolution that lasts until January 30. The package also includes a three-bill minibus that would fund the following agencies for all of FY 2026:
- Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies
- Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
- Legislative Branch
The Senate first passed the measure on Monday in a 60-40 vote with every Republican except Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) voting in favor, along with eight Democrats
The House returned to session after a long absence to approve the bill on November 12, by a vote of 222-209, and it was immediately signed into law by the President.
With the government reopen, negotiations to fund the remaining agencies for FY 2026 will resume ahead of the new January deadline. Lawmakers in both chambers have released proposals to fund the Department of Education (ED) but remain far apart. The Senate proposed level funding for most education and workforce programs in their version of the bill, including level funding for the Perkins State Grant. However, the House proposed steep cuts to education and workforce programs, including a 15% cut to the Department of Education and 30% cut to the Department of Labor, although they did include a $25 million increase for Perkins.
ACTE will continue to update members as action unfolds. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ACTE’s Government Relations Manager, Jimmy Koch (jkoch@acteonline.org).
