The General Plan

Explainer ·

December 11, 2026: three funding rules turn on the same day

The FY2027 continuing resolution, the surface-transportation extension of the IIJA, and the bar on finalizing the Uniform Guidance rewrite all run to December 11, 2026. What each one says, from the primary record.

Built from the three trackers below. Sources last verified .

  1. 1 of 3

    FY2027 appropriations and the December 11, 2026 continuing resolution

    Status: Public Law 119-103 funds the government at FY2026 rates through Dec. 11, 2026; no full-year FY2027 appropriations act has been enacted.

    Latest change, : OMB Bulletin 27-01 automatically apportions the CR pro rata through Dec. 11. OMB's bulletin states that Division A of Public Law 119-103 provides continuing appropriations for October 1, 2026 through December 11, 2026, and that as of October 1, 2026 OMB is automatically apportioning to each applicable account the pro-rata share of the rate for operations provided by section 101 of the CR and any extensions. Absent a spend-faster anomaly, agencies must request an exception apportionment, which OMB expects to approve only in extraordinary circumstances. Source: OMB Bulletin No. 27-01 (whitehouse.gov)

    What it means for recipients

    • Section 101 provides such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate for operations as provided in the applicable appropriations acts for fiscal year 2026 and under the authority and conditions provided in such acts, for continuing projects or activities that were conducted in fiscal year 2026. Public Law 119-103, Division A, section 101 (govinfo.gov)
    • Section 106 makes the appropriations available until whichever occurs first: enactment of an appropriation for a project or activity provided for in the act, enactment of the applicable FY2027 appropriations act without provision for such project or activity, or December 11, 2026. Public Law 119-103, Division A, section 106 (govinfo.gov)
    • OMB Bulletin 27-01 automatically apportions to each applicable account the pro-rata share of the rate for operations provided by section 101 of the CR, and states that OMB expects to approve exception apportionment requests only in extraordinary circumstances. OMB Bulletin No. 27-01 (Sept. 28, 2026) (whitehouse.gov)
    • NIH states that its institutes and centers may, at their discretion, issue non-competing research grant awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award, and that upward adjustments will be considered after FY2027 appropriations are enacted. NIH Notice NOT-OD-26-131 (Sept. 28, 2026) (grants.nih.gov)
    Full changelog (7 entries) →
  2. 2 of 3

    IIJA surface-transportation extension to December 11, 2026

    Status: Division C of Public Law 119-103 extends IIJA surface-transportation programs through Dec. 11, 2026 at 72/365 of FY2026 levels; FHWA apportioned $11.2 billion on Oct. 1; no reauthorization enacted.

    Latest change, : FHWA apportions $11.207 billion of Federal-aid highway funds for the 72-day extension period. FHWA Notice N 4510.916 transmits the certificate of apportionment for October 1 through December 11, 2026 under Division C of Public Law 119-103 for the National Highway Performance Program, Surface Transportation Block Grant, Highway Safety Improvement Program, Railway-Highway Crossings, CMAQ, National Highway Freight Program, Metropolitan Planning, Carbon Reduction and PROTECT formula programs. An annualized total of $56,814,769,844, or $11,207,297,065 for the extension period at 72/365 of FY2026, is authorized; the apportionments are effective immediately and available for obligation until September 30, 2030. Source: FHWA Notice N 4510.916 (highways.dot.gov)

    What it means for recipients

    • Section 3101(a) provides that the requirements, authorities, conditions, eligibilities, limitations and other provisions under the covered laws that would otherwise expire on or cease to apply after September 30, 2026 are incorporated by reference and continue in effect through the extension end date of December 11, 2026. Section 3101(c)(1) provides that extension-period amounts are distributed, administered, limited and made available for obligation in the same manner as FY2026 amounts under the covered laws. Public Law 119-103, Division C, section 3101 (govinfo.gov)
    • Section 3104(a) provides that Highway Trust Fund amounts under IIJA section 11101 for non-apportioned programs that would otherwise lapse on September 30, 2026 shall be available until September 30, 2027. Public Law 119-103, Division C, section 3104 (govinfo.gov)
    • FHWA's apportionment of Federal-aid highway funds for October 1 through December 11, 2026 is effective immediately, available for obligation until September 30, 2030, and subject to the obligation controls in force at the time of obligation; supplementary set-aside and suballocation tables will be issued by separate notice. FHWA Notice N 4510.916 (Oct. 1, 2026) (highways.dot.gov)
    • Funds redistributed under FHWA Notice N 4510.918 are available for any purpose described in 23 U.S.C. 133(b); no new obligation authority is distributed with these funds. FHWA Notice N 4510.918 (Oct. 1, 2026) (highways.dot.gov)
    Full changelog (6 entries) →
  3. 3 of 3

    Uniform Guidance rewrite (OMB-2026-0034)

    Status: Proposed rule 91 FR 32198 closed to comment July 13, 2026; section 157 of the continuing resolution bars issuing or finalizing it through Dec. 11, 2026; no final rule published.

    Latest change, : NIH tells applicants the CR prohibits implementing the Uniform Guidance revisions. NIH Notice NOT-OD-26-131 states that NIH operates under the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (Public Law 119-103), which continues government operations through December 11, 2026 at the FY2026 enacted level. It states that the CR also prohibits NIH from implementing the revisions to the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal Awards, commonly known as the Uniform Guidance, including 2 CFR Part 200. Source: NIH Notice NOT-OD-26-131 (grants.nih.gov)

    What it means for recipients

    Full changelog (7 entries) →

Sources cited on this page