Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026

Purpose & Problem

Is the problem real and worth federal action?

The bill funds several federal departments and agencies for fiscal year 2026, which ends September 30, 2026. It covers defense, labor, health, education, transportation, housing, financial services, and foreign operations.

Scope & Related Provisions

Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?

The bill covers five of twelve annual spending bills, so its scope is intentionally broad. It also extends unrelated programs like the National Flood Insurance Program, TANF benefits, trade preferences, and health care payment rules.

Who Is Affected

Who benefits, and who bears the cost?

Military personnel, federal workers, students, public housing residents, Medicaid and Medicare enrollees, small businesses, state and local governments, and foreign aid recipients all receive funding or bear new program requirements under this bill.

Cost & Funding

Is it affordable and responsibly funded?

The bill appropriates hundreds of billions of dollars across covered agencies, including roughly $895 billion for defense, $54 billion for military pay alone, and over $500 billion for Medicaid grants to states. Each division carries its own line-item amounts authorized for specific programs, agencies, and activities.

Risks & Implementation

What could go wrong in practice?

The bill requires agencies to carry out hundreds of programs across multiple divisions simultaneously. Agencies must also meet dozens of congressional notification deadlines and submit operating plans within 45 to 60 days, which creates tight timelines for compliance.

DIVISION A--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026

This division funds the U.S. Department of Defense for fiscal year 2026. It covers pay and benefits for active duty and reserve military personnel, operating costs, weapons and equipment purchases, research and development, and military health care. It also sets rules on how funds can be moved between accounts and restricts certain spending.

DIVISION B--DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026

This division funds the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and related agencies for fiscal year 2026. It sets specific dollar amounts for job training, unemployment insurance, workplace safety, veterans employment, worker compensation, and other labor programs. It also includes rules about how funds can be transferred, salary limits for grant recipients, and special provisions for programs like Job Corps, apprenticeships, and H-2B seasonal worker visas.

DIVISION D--TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026

This division funds the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2026. It sets specific dollar amounts for agencies like the FAA, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and housing programs. It also includes rules on how money can be moved between accounts, reporting requirements, and restrictions on certain spending.

DIVISION E--FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026

This division funds the Treasury Department, the Executive Office of the President, the federal judiciary, and several other federal agencies for fiscal year 2026. It sets specific dollar amounts for operations, salaries, enforcement, and programs such as IRS taxpayer services, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and Community Development Financial Institutions. It also includes rules about how funds can be transferred between accounts, reporting requirements, and restrictions on certain spending.

DIVISION F--NATIONAL SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026

This division funds the Department of State, foreign assistance programs, and national security activities for fiscal year 2026. It provides money for diplomatic operations, embassy security, international peacekeeping, foreign military financing, global health programs, and humanitarian aid. It also sets rules on how those funds can be spent, transferred, or reported to Congress.

DIVISION G--OTHER MATTERS

This division blocks the use of any U.S. government funds appropriated for the State Department or foreign operations from being sent to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The ban covers money from prior years and all of fiscal year 2026, and extends into fiscal year 2027 until March 25, 2027. No other law can override this restriction.

DIVISION H--FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026

This division extends a previous short-term government funding law through February 13, 2026. It also ratifies spending and obligations that occurred during a brief lapse in appropriations around January 31, 2026, ensuring federal workers get paid for that period. One earlier provision from a prior continuing resolution is repealed and voided.

DIVISION I--AUTHORIZING EXTENDERS AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS

This division extends the expiration dates of many existing federal programs through September 30, 2026, or later, so they can keep operating without interruption. Programs covered include the National Flood Insurance Program, E-Verify, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, cybersecurity programs, and several others. It also makes technical fixes to laws involving bankruptcy fees, immigration workers, and sentencing guidelines.

DIVISION J--HEALTH CARE EXTENDERS

This division extends and updates a wide range of health care programs under Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, including telehealth flexibilities, hospital payment adjustments, and prescription drug rules. It also funds public health programs covering maternal health, organ transplants, sickle cell disease, and pediatric drug research. Additional sections reform pharmacy benefit managers, extend family assistance programs, and give the FDA new authority over pediatric cancer drugs and a new office tied to the Abraham Accords.