Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026

Legislative Summary: HR 5371

Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026

Overview

HR 5371 is a comprehensive appropriations and extensions act designed to ensure the continued operation of various federal government functions for Fiscal Year 2026. The bill serves a dual purpose: it provides "continuing appropriations" (temporary funding to prevent government shutdowns) for many agencies while providing specific, full-year appropriations for the Agriculture, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction/Veterans Affairs sectors.

Main Purpose and Intent

The primary intent of this legislation is to maintain government stability by:
1. Preventing Funding Lapses: Ensuring that essential services continue to operate at 2025 levels until permanent 2026 appropriations are enacted.
2. Funding Targeted Sectors: Providing detailed budgetary allocations for agricultural programs, the federal judiciary, and veterans' services.
3. Extending Critical Programs: Renewing "extenders" for health, agricultural, and veteran-related programs that would otherwise expire.

Key Provisions

1. Continuing Appropriations (Division A)

• Status Quo Funding: Generally funds the government at the 2025 rate of operations.
• Expiration Date: These temporary funds are available until January 30, 2026, or until a permanent appropriation act is passed.
• DoD Restrictions: Prohibits the Department of Defense from starting new production of items or initiating new projects that were not funded in FY 2025.
• Employee Protections: Prohibits "reductions in force" (layoffs) of federal civilian employees between the enactment date and January 30, 2026.

2. Sector-Specific Appropriations (Divisions B, C, and D)

• Agriculture (Division B): Detailed funding for the USDA, including the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Farm Service Agency (with a $1.125 billion allocation for salaries and expenses), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It includes specific funds for the Census of Agriculture ($46 million) and the Agricultural Research Service.
• Legislative Branch (Division C): Funds the operations of Congress and related legislative agencies.
• Military Construction & Veterans Affairs (Division D): Provides funding for Department of Defense construction projects and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operations.

3. Program Extensions (Divisions E, F, and G)

• Agricultural & Health Extenders: Extends various public health, Medicare, and Medicaid provisions.
• VA Extenders: Extends critical health care, benefits, and housing programs for veterans.

4. Miscellaneous Specifics

• Judicial Security: Appropriates $28 million specifically for the protection of Supreme Court Justices.
• Law Enforcement: Provides $30 million for the U.S. Marshals Service for protective operations.
• Capitol Police: Appropriates $30 million for mutual aid reimbursements.

Who is Affected?

• Federal Employees: Protected from immediate layoffs and guaranteed backpay if a lapse in appropriations occurred.
• Farmers and Ranchers: Through continued funding of the Farm Service Agency, crop insurance, and conservation programs.
• Veterans: Through the extension of VA health and housing benefits.
• State and Local Governments: The bill provides mechanisms for the reimbursement of State funds used to maintain federal programs during funding lapses.

Timeline and Procedural Aspects

• Effective Date: For accounting and operational purposes, the act is treated as having begun on October 1, 2025.
• Key Deadline: The continuing appropriations expire on January 30, 2026, necessitating further legislative action to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year.
• Reporting: The USDA Secretary must provide a report on research unit funding and staffing levels within 60 days of enactment.