Congress will not finish its appropriations work on time this year. The money it appropriated for the current fiscal year expires on September 30. The government will shut down after that if Congress does not approve a stopgap measure—or continuing resolution—extending that funding into the new fiscal year.
Lawmakers in the House and Senate took the initial step to avoid a shutdown before leaving Washington for their annual August recess. The House voted 220 to 205 to approve the Continuing Appropriations Act (HR 9770) on July 21. The Senate voted 90 to 6 to approve the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act (HR 6500) on August 8. But passing two CRs does not prevent a shutdown.
