This bill would keep the government from shutting down by automatically keeping programs funded if a new budget isn’t passed on time. For the first 90 days, most programs would run at 94% of last year’s level; after that, funding drops by 1 percentage point every 90 days until a new funding law is signed. If no new law passes by the end of the year, this automatic funding continues into the next year . It applies to programs that had funding the year before, either in a full budget or a temporary one.

Essential benefits like entitlement payments and food and nutrition assistance would keep going at the levels needed under current law. Agencies must spread out the money in the same proportions they used the year before, and the funding follows the same rules and conditions as last year. The bill blocks large upfront payouts and new grants at the start of the year that could limit final budget choices. The automatic funding ends once a regular budget or a temporary funding bill becomes law, and costs are then charged to the proper accounts. Some programs may be excluded if another law already funds them or forbids funding .

• Who is affected: Federal programs and services funded last year; people who rely on benefits like nutrition assistance and other entitlements.
• What changes: Automatic, step-down funding starts at 94% for 90 days, then drops 1% every 90 days until new funding passes .
• When it applies: At the start of a fiscal year if no budget is enacted and no temporary funding is in place; it can carry into the next year if needed .
• Extra rules: Same allocation patterns as last year; no big upfront distributions or new grants that lock in final decisions; ends when a new funding law is signed .