Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026

This bill keeps the federal government open by continuing current funding levels for most programs for a short time, instead of shutting down if new budgets aren’t passed on time. It also adds money for certain needs, like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and security for federal officials. It makes the expanded health insurance tax credit permanent, which helps many people pay lower monthly premiums when they buy coverage on the marketplace. It also rolls back earlier changes that would have cut Medicaid funding. The bill lets Washington, DC use its locally raised funds as planned and limits how the budget office can hold back money that Congress has already approved. It also extends several programs in health care, veterans’ services, homeland security, and farming so they don’t lapse.

Key points:

• Keeps most federal funding at last year’s levels for a limited period to avoid a shutdown, with a few targeted increases.
• Permanently extends the expanded premium tax credit to lower marketplace health insurance costs.
• Repeals prior health rules that reduced Medicaid funding.
• Allows DC to spend its local budget and limits the budget office’s power to withhold funds.
• Extends expiring programs in health, veterans, security, and agriculture.

| Who is affected | What changes | When | |—|—|—| | People buying insurance on the marketplace | Lower premiums continue through a permanent tax credit expansion | Ongoing, made permanent in the bill | | Medicaid recipients | Cuts from a prior law are undone | Upon enactment | | Federal agencies and programs | Funding continues at last year’s levels, with some added funds | For a short period until full-year budgets pass | | DC residents and government | DC can use its locally approved FY2026 budget | During the funding period |