Trump Signs Spending Bill, Pushing Govt Funding Fight Past Midterms

President Donald Trump has signed legislation temporarily funding the federal government, eliminating the immediate threat of a shutdown just weeks before voters cast ballots in the 2026 midterm elections.

The bipartisan stopgap measure keeps federal agencies funded through Dec. 11, shifting Washington’s next major spending battle into the politically charged period between Election Day and Christmas.

The House approved the continuing resolution in a lopsided 370-48 vote after the Senate passed the measure 90-6 in August.

With Trump’s signature, the government will remain funded beyond the Sept. 30 expiration of current appropriations.

But the legislation does little to resolve the broader spending disputes dividing lawmakers. Instead, Congress has effectively postponed the fight until after the Nov. 3 elections.

Nineteen Republicans and 29 Democrats voted against the measure in the House, though leaders from both parties easily secured the votes needed for final passage.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole said lawmakers understood the Senate would make changes to the House-approved version and argued that accepting those compromises gave Congress more time to negotiate.

“When we passed our continuing resolution over here, we knew it would change when it got to the Senate,” Cole said, adding that lawmakers had “bought the time that we need to get through the election cycle” and potentially reach broader agreements afterward.

Congress remains far from completing the regular appropriations process, meaning lawmakers will face another major funding deadline only a little more than five weeks after Election Day.

The continuing resolution largely maintains current spending levels but includes several targeted changes, including additional money for disaster relief and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

House Democrats largely backed the legislation after senior Democratic appropriator Rosa DeLauro supported the Senate-negotiated package.

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., criticized Congress for once again relying on a temporary funding measure despite having much of September to continue negotiating full-year appropriations bills.

“It is not a good way to run our federal government,” Lieu said, though he ultimately supported the bill because he said it was the only realistic option available.

Conservative Republicans also objected to provisions added by the Senate.

Among the most controversial were language delaying restrictions on intoxicating hemp products and a temporary block on a proposed White House budget rule involving the review of federal grants.

The grant provision prevents the Office of Management and Budget, at least temporarily, from implementing proposed changes that would give political appointees a larger role in reviewing federal grant awards.

The Trump administration has argued that presidents should have greater control over executive branch spending and ensure federal grants reflect the priorities of the elected administration.

Critics argue the policy could inject politics into grant-making decisions traditionally handled by career officials and independent review processes.

The hemp provision also drew opposition from House Freedom Caucus members, including Reps. Andy Harris of Maryland and Chip Roy of Texas, who argued Congress should not delay restrictions aimed at intoxicating hemp products.

Despite those concerns, Republican leaders concluded that avoiding a government shutdown before the midterms was more important than fighting over individual provisions in the temporary package.

The political stakes were clear. Neither party appeared eager to enter the final weeks of a national election campaign while federal workers faced missed paychecks and government services were disrupted.

The Dec. 11 deadline, however, guarantees that the spending fight is only delayed.

The Guardian reported that the next showdown will arrive during the lame-duck session, when the results of the midterm elections could dramatically influence negotiations.

If control of the House or Senate changes hands, lawmakers may face intense pressure to complete major spending legislation before the newly elected Congress takes office.

If the balance of power remains unchanged, Congress could instead opt for yet another temporary extension.

Either way, Trump’s signature removes the immediate shutdown threat while setting up another high-stakes spending battle before the end of the year.