THE SHUTDOWN CLOCK – THE QUESTION EVERYONE ASKS
Will the government shut down?
Almost certainly not at the Sep 30, 2026 deadline. Funding runs through Sep 30, 2026, and a stopgap (H.R. 6500, through Dec 11, 2026) has already passed the Senate 90-6 and awaits a House vote.
The Stopgap · Continuing Resolution
FY2027 CHAIN · 2 LINKS
When the twelve bills are not finished by the deadline, Congress buys time with a continuing resolution: a short-term patch that keeps current funding running. Stopgaps often come in chains, each one pushing the deadline a little further. This is the chain for FY2027, tracked like everything else here.
H.R. 6500 · Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027
Passed the Senate, awaiting the HouseWOULD FUND THROUGH DEC 11, 2026 · ALL 12 BILLS
HOUSE PENDING · SENATE 90-6 · AUG 8, 2026
The Senate's bipartisan stopgap, negotiated by Appropriations Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray and passed 90-6: freezes most federal funding at FY2026 levels through December 11, 2026, blocks OMB's proposed grants rule for the duration, and carries defense, Olympics-security, Navy shipbuilding, and housing-voucher adjustments the White House requested, plus standard anomalies for WIC, FEMA disaster relief, wildfire suppression, SBA lending, Census preparation, and NOAA satellites.
CARVE-OUTS: Blocks OMB's proposed federal grants rule through Dec. 11 · Additional defense spending and accelerated Navy shipbuilding · FBI funding to begin preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics · Housing Choice Voucher flexibility for rental and homeless assistance · WIC, FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, wildfire suppression, SBA lending · Census preparation, NOAA weather satellites, DOJ litigation · 30-day extension of the domestic hemp production ban
LAST ACTION AUG 8, 2026: SENATE PASSED THE BILL (H.R. 6500, AS AMENDED) 90-6 EARLY SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 8, AND LEFT FOR THE AUGUST RECESS. THE BILL NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE, WHICH PASSED ITS OWN SHORTER CR (H.R. 9770, THROUGH DEC. 4) IN JULY; THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO TAKE UP THE SENATE TEXT IN SEPTEMBER. NOT YET LAW. · BILL PAGE ↗
H.R. 9770 · Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027
Passed the House, awaiting the SenateWOULD FUND THROUGH DEC 4, 2026 · ALL 12 BILLS
HOUSE 220-205 · JUL 21, 2026 · SENATE PENDING
Freezes most federal funding at FY2026 levels through December 4, 2026, or until the real FY2027 bills become law, whichever comes first. Passed the House 220-205 with one Republican against and six Democrats in favor; Senate leaders have said they will write their own version with more of the administration's requested adjustments.
CARVE-OUTS: Extra flexibility for WIC nutrition aid · Small Business Administration loan programs · FEMA Disaster Relief Fund · Indian Health Service · Wildfire suppression · Extends the National Flood Insurance Program and TANF · Lets the District of Columbia keep spending local funds
LAST ACTION AUG 8, 2026: SUPERSEDED IN PRACTICE: RATHER THAN TAKE UP H.R. 9770, THE SENATE WROTE AND PASSED ITS OWN STOPGAP (H.R. 6500, THROUGH DEC. 11) ON AUGUST 8. THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO ACT ON THE SENATE TEXT IN SEPTEMBER. · BILL PAGE ↗
The questions, answered from the data
Will the government shut down?SHOWHIDE
Almost certainly not at the Sep 30, 2026 deadline. Funding runs through Sep 30, 2026, and a stopgap (H.R. 6500, through Dec 11, 2026) has already passed the Senate 90-6 and awaits a House vote.
When is the next possible government shutdown?SHOWHIDE
The next date a government shutdown is possible is Sep 30, 2026, when current funding expires. If the pending stopgap (H.R. 6500) becomes law, that date moves to Dec 11, 2026. A shutdown happens only if Congress lets a funding deadline pass without acting.
When does government funding run out?SHOWHIDE
Current funding runs through Sep 30, 2026. The federal fiscal year always ends September 30.
Is there a continuing resolution?SHOWHIDE
H.R. 6500 passed the Senate 90-6 and waits on the House. It would fund the government through Dec 11, 2026.
What happens in a government shutdown?SHOWHIDE
Agencies stop all activity that is not excepted by law: federal workers are furloughed or work unpaid, grants and payments pause, and services from parks to permitting close until Congress enacts funding. Essential functions like Social Security checks, the military, and air traffic control continue.
How would Congress prevent a shutdown?SHOWHIDE
By enacting the twelve annual appropriations bills, or more often a continuing resolution that extends current funding while negotiations continue. Both must pass the House and Senate and be signed by the President.
Put this countdown on your site
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<iframe src="https://approps.ai/embed/countdown" width="340" height="200" frameborder="0" title="Days until the federal funding deadline · approps.ai"> </iframe>
WHERE EVERY BILL STANDS · THE FULL TRACKER →
THIS PAGE COMPUTES ITS ANSWER FROM THE SAME LIVE DATA AS THE TRACKER · HOW THE PROCESS WORKS