Advocacy Alert: Congress Reaches an Agreement to Re-Open the Government After a Record-Breaking Shutdown
On Wednesday, November 12, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve the U.S. Senate’s proposal to reopen the federal government, ending the longest government shutdown in history. The agreed-upon funding measure, signed into law by President Trump the same day, funds the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction projects, and congressional operations at new 2026 funding levels through September 30, 2026. The agreement, referred to as a Continuing Resolution (CR), maintains all other federal programs at 2025 funding levels through January 30, 2026.
Telehealth Flexibilities Temporarily Restored
The CR also restores Medicare telehealth flexibilities that expired on September 30 and authorizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to fund all covered telehealth services provided since October 1, 2025. The future of Medicare telehealth flexibilities is now up to Congress, which has extended these waivers several times since the COVID public health emergency.
Next Steps for Congressional Appropriations
Congress returns to official work with a substantial legislative backlog to push through in less than three months. The CR gives lawmakers until the end of January to pass nine remaining 2026 appropriations bills, including funding for Health and Human Services (HHS). As in previous years, lawmakers will look to bundle these funding measures into “minibuses” due to the lack of time. The Labor-HHS appropriations bill, which includes funding for all federal health programs and systems (e.g., CMS, the NIH, CDC, etc.) will require additional negotiation, as the House and the Senate are still far apart on what they deem appropriate top-line funding levels for 2026.
Healthcare Affordability Debate Becomes Central Focus
More broadly, healthcare affordability has become the focal point in government funding debates and the issue that caused the 43-day shutdown. With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies expiring at the end of the year, Congress is bracing for a 30% increase in ACA premiums that may force many Americans to drop healthcare coverage. Members of Congress know the political backlash they will face if their constituents lose these subsidies, and both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are in talks to extend them, even if temporarily. But not all Republicans are onboard with extending these subsidies, and there is no guarantee that Republican House leadership will allow a floor vote on any compromise.
While the President stayed on the sidelines of the shutdown negotiations, recent comments from the White House indicate that he will step into the healthcare affordability debate by seeking an alternative way to lower healthcare coverage costs without extending ACA subsidies.
ASTCT Monitoring Impact on Federal Health Programs
The funding debates that will take place in the next few weeks and months will influence 2026 funding and operations for NIH, CDC, CMS and all agencies and programs under HHS. ASTCT Government Relations will continue to monitor Congressional funding activities and will keep ASTCT members informed of opportunities to get involved to help ASCT convey support for HHS in 2026.
Feel free to contact Molly Ford, Director of Government & Payer Relations, with any questions.