• The White House is advocating for a "clean" continuing resolution to maintain government funding at current levels without policy riders
  • The House narrowly passed the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 by a 217-212 vote on September 19
  • Government funding expires September 30, requiring Senate approval to avoid a partial shutdown

The White House is pressing Congress to pass a straightforward continuing resolution to fund the government through the current fiscal impasse, with just days remaining before federal funding authority lapses. The administration's call for a "clean" bill—free from controversial policy additions or amendments—comes as legislative leaders scramble to prevent a partial government shutdown.

The House narrowly approved the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 (H.R. 5371) on September 19 by a 217-212 margin, setting up a critical vote in the Senate where the measure faces a higher procedural threshold. The bill maintains fiscal year 2025 funding levels while including specific allocations for congressional security and other essential functions.

According to people familiar with the negotiations, administration officials have been working behind the scenes to build bipartisan support for the stopgap measure. "The focus is on keeping the government open and avoiding disruption to essential services," said one individual involved in the discussions, who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.

The legislation includes $30 million for congressional security operations and $58 million for security assistance to the Supreme Court and executive branch agencies. These targeted allocations are intended to address immediate security needs while broader funding debates continue.

Senate leaders face the challenge of securing 60 votes to advance the measure, requiring bipartisan cooperation in a chamber where procedural hurdles often complicate last-minute funding deals. Multiple Senate aides confirmed that negotiations were ongoing but described the path forward as "uncertain" given the tight timeline.

A White House spokesperson, when reached for comment, reiterated the administration's position that "a clean CR is the most straightforward way to ensure government operations continue without interruption while longer-term budget discussions proceed."

The funding deadline of September 30 creates pressure for swift action, though previous fiscal standoffs have sometimes extended into the final hours before resolution. Market participants are monitoring the situation closely, with some analysts noting that prolonged uncertainty could affect Treasury bill auctions and short-term funding markets.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the vote margin in the House. The bill passed 217-212, not 217-215.