Airport Alert: House Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund Federal Government Until December 11

September 1, 2026

This afternoon, the House passed the Senate-approved continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government until December 11 (370-48). The Senate overwhelmingly passed this bill last month (90-6). The President is expected to sign the CR, averting a government shutdown at the beginning of October. This stopgap funding measure will allow lawmakers to get past the midterm elections before refocusing on the fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations process, which has been sidetracked by vigorous disagreements between Republicans and Democrats on overall spending levels and priorities.

Some of the transportation-related items and other noteworthy provisions in the CR include:

Extension of Surface Transportation Programs: The CR extends surface transportation programs until December 11 as lawmakers continue to draft a multi-year highway reauthorization bill. Without Congressional action, those programs are set to expire on September 30.
Essential Air Service: The measure allows for the Essential Air Service program to continue operating until December 11.
Office of Management and Budget Grant Rule: The bill temporarily blocks the Office of Management and Budget from implementing a controversial new grant rule through the duration of the CR.
Reimbursable Screening Service Program: The CR also extends the reimbursable screening service program (RSSP) through the duration of the extension. RSSP is a pilot program that allows TSA to enter into reimbursable agreements to provide screening services at locations other than primary passenger terminal screening areas.

Unfortunately, the CR does not extend advance appropriations Congress used to create the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), as Democrats, AAAE, ACI-NA, and a broad array of transportation interests recommended. The IIJA programs are slated to expire at the end of September, creating a $4 billion funding cliff for airports in FY27.