The House of Representatives has approved the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, with a narrow vote of 217 to 214. This legislation enacts five full-year fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills that had previously passed in the House and now awaits President Trump's signature.
The passage comes after months of bipartisan negotiations led by both chambers. The initial agreement was altered by the Senate, which resulted in a partial government shutdown. The House's latest action aims to restore government operations and provide stability.
The new measure includes investments in several key areas: pay raises for military personnel, support for biomedical research and medical supply chains, enhancements in education and training programs, improvements in air traffic control technology and transportation infrastructure, and increased safeguards against threats to the U.S. financial system. It also directs funding toward local community projects across the country.
A two-week continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security is included at President Trump’s direction. This short-term extension covers agencies such as FEMA, the Coast Guard, Secret Service, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency while Congress continues negotiating final spending terms.
Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) stated: “Months of bipartisan, bicameral work produced a final funding agreement, and the House stood by it. When that deal was altered at the last minute and the government was disrupted, we didn’t walk away – we stepped up again. That is what responsible governance looks like. Each bet against us has become a proof point of leadership. So, today, we’ve once again strengthened our national defense, supported education and health systems, modernized our transportation and infrastructure, supported small businesses, and reasserted diplomacy on the world stage. These are real outcomes for the American people – progress that keeps the nation moving and the government working. We’ve also ensured continuity for critical Homeland Security services, including support for the Coast Guard, FEMA, TSA, cybersecurity, and more. This path forward will allow the White House to continue its good faith negotiations with Democrats – without jeopardizing the continuity of government operations. With President Trump’s signature, more than 95% of the federal government will be funded through full-year appropriations. That’s Article I responsibility put into action.”
The House Committee on Appropriations oversees drafting annual spending bills that allocate federal funds across all sectors of government operations—an essential role highlighted during this legislative process (https://appropriations.house.gov). The committee also provides guidance on community project funding requests included within these bills (https://appropriations.house.gov), influencing policy through measures like this appropriations act (https://appropriations.house.gov).
Tom Cole currently serves as chairman—the 43rd person to hold this position—of this influential committee (https://appropriations.house.gov).
Notable members serving on this committee include Republicans such as Harold Rogers and Democrats like Steny Hoyer (https://appropriations.house.gov).
With most federal agencies set to receive full-year funding pending presidential approval—and temporary coverage secured for homeland security functions—Congress moves closer to ending recent disruptions caused by lapses in appropriations.
