# Will the government shut down on December 11?

*The stopgap law that funds federal agencies ends on December 11, 2026, so the answer depends on whether a new funding law is enacted by then.*

- Type: Explainer
- Section: Politics
- By: Politics Desk
- Published: 2026-11-11T12:55:00-05:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T19:20:00-05:00
- URL: https://factsdesk.com/politics/will-the-government-shut-down-on-december-11/

Topics: [U.S. Congress](https://factsdesk.com/topic/us-congress/)

## Key facts

- Federal agencies are funded through December 11, 2026 under a stopgap law, so funding lapses after that date unless a new funding measure becomes law first. Source: [U.S. Government Publishing Office](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr6500enr/html/BILLS-119hr6500enr.htm). Confirmed 2026-11-11T12:50:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/will-the-government-shut-down-on-december-11/#federal-agencies-are-funded-through-december-11-2026-under-a
- The stopgap is the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (H.R. 6500), which became Public Law 119-103 when the president signed it on September 2, 2026. Source: [U.S. Government Publishing Office](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr6500.xml). Confirmed 2026-11-11T12:50:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/will-the-government-shut-down-on-december-11/#the-stopgap-is-the-continuing-appropriations-and-extensions
- The Senate passed the measure 90 to 6 on August 8, 2026, and the House agreed to the Senate version 370 to 48 on September 1, 2026. Source: [U.S. Government Publishing Office](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr6500.xml). Confirmed 2026-11-11T12:50:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/will-the-government-shut-down-on-december-11/#the-senate-passed-the-measure-90-to-6-on-august-8-2026-and
- Section 106 of the law keeps the stopgap funding available until a regular fiscal 2027 appropriation for a program is enacted or until December 11, 2026, whichever comes first. Source: [U.S. Government Publishing Office](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr6500enr/html/BILLS-119hr6500enr.htm). Confirmed 2026-11-11T12:50:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/will-the-government-shut-down-on-december-11/#section-106-of-the-law-keeps-the-stopgap-funding-available

Federal funding runs through December 11, 2026, under Public Law 119-103, and it lapses after that date unless Congress passes and the president signs a new funding measure. Whether that happens cannot be answered with a yes or a no yet, because the votes have not been held. What can be stated is the deadline itself and what the law requires, and both come straight from the text Congress passed.

## What the law says

Federal agencies are operating under the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, which is [Public Law 119-103](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr6500.xml). A continuing appropriations act is a stopgap: it keeps money flowing while the regular full-year spending bills are unfinished.

[Section 106 of the act](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr6500enr/html/BILLS-119hr6500enr.htm) says the funding stays available until whichever of three things happens first. The first is the enactment of an appropriation for a given project or activity. The second is the enactment of the applicable fiscal 2027 appropriations act without any provision for that project or activity. The third is December 11, 2026.

## What has to happen to avoid a lapse

For funding to continue past December 11, a new measure has to pass the House and the Senate and be signed by the president before the stopgap runs out. That measure can be the regular fiscal 2027 appropriations acts or another continuing appropriations act that sets a later date.

## How the current stopgap passed

The bill status record shows the Senate passed its version 90 to 6 on August 8, 2026. The House agreed to the Senate amendments 370 to 48 on September 1, 2026, on a motion that required a two-thirds majority. The measure was presented to the president and signed on September 2, 2026.

## What this page does not say

This page does not predict whether Congress will act in time, and it reports no odds. It will be updated on this address when a new funding measure is introduced, passed or signed.

## Sources

1. [H.R. 6500, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, enrolled bill text](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr6500enr/html/BILLS-119hr6500enr.htm), U.S. Government Publishing Office, 2026-09-02 (primary source)
2. [Bill status for H.R. 6500, 119th Congress](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr6500.xml), U.S. Government Publishing Office, 2026-09-02 (primary source)