Inside (the Beltway) Scoop
By: Ellen KuoWednesday, August 12, 2026
Senate’s Continuing Resolution Blocks OMB’s Proposed Rule
The Senate Appropriations Committee released its continuing resolution (CR), HR 6500, with extensions of authorization for programs under Division B and anomalies that the House did not consider. On Saturday, August 8, the Senate passed the CR on a vote of 90-6 before leaving for their recess. Now the bill must be passed by the House when it returns the first week of September to avoid another shutdown.
One important item to note is section 157 of the CR, which deals with the OMB’s “Regulations for Federal Financial Assistance.” Until December 11, 2026, the CR, once enacted, would prevent the proposed rule or a substantially similar one from being issued or finalized during the length of this CR. Both Chair Susan Collins and ranking member Patty Murray emphasized this point in their released statements. Despite this language, there is still a long way to go since FASEB’s request to OMB is total withdrawal. Please make your voice heard by visiting our legislative action center to tell Congress the harm this rule would cause if finalized.
Other provisions of the CR include section 104 stopping new starts which prevents funds appropriated under the CR from being used to carry out programs or activities for which funding authority was not available in the FY 2026 appropriations Acts. Section 109 prohibits agencies from spending money on grant programs too quickly during the CR, and Section 110 directs agencies to spend money in the most limited way possible during the CR. Section 112 allows funds to be appropriated to agencies to prevent the furlough of any employee during the CR.
As background, the House Appropriations Committee has passed all twelve of its spending bills, with only three passing the floor—Agriculture, Military Construction and National Security-State. However, the Senate Appropriations Committee has not been able to move theirs from subcommittee to full committee. The expectation is that once the Senate releases its marks for FY 2027, the House and Senate can work on an agreement to finalize FY 2027 spending bills, but with recess upon the Senate, their first move was to set in motion the vehicle to keep the government open by allowing the House to have the bill before the Senate left. The Senate is expected back on September 14, so there will be little time left before September 30 is upon them.