The Senate Passed a Funding Patch 90-6. Why October 1 Is Not Safe Yet.

The Senate passed a continuing resolution 90-6 early Saturday morning, funding the government through December 11 — but a shutdown on October 1 is not off the table yet. The bill still needs the House, and the House does not come back until September.

What the Senate Actually Passed

In the early hours of Saturday, on its way out of town for the August recess, the Senate voted 90-6 for a continuing resolution: current funding levels, extended through December 11. That buys Congress roughly ten additional weeks to finish the real fiscal year 2027 appropriations bills. The Senate version also freezes, until December 11, a proposed rule that would require senior political appointees to sign off on federal grants.

Why It Is Not Law Yet

A continuing resolution passed by one chamber is not funding. The House passed its own, narrower extension back in July, and it must take up and pass this bill — and the President must sign it — before the fiscal year ends September 30. The House is not scheduled to return until the first week of September.

Roll Call reports the patch is expected to move without much difficulty after a 90-6 Senate vote. Expected is not done. That leaves a short window in early September where the outcome is still genuinely open.

The Deadline Most People Are Missing: August 31

A continuing resolution holds spending at current levels. It does not decide your January 2027 pay adjustment. That runs on a separate track with its own deadline: under 5 U.S.C. § 5303(b), the President must transmit any alternative pay plan to Congress before September 1. If no alternative plan is transmitted, the statutory formula adjustments take effect by default. Either way, you should have a clear signal on next year’s raise within the next few weeks.

If a Lapse Ever Happens, You Are Owed Back Pay

The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, codified at 31 U.S.C. § 1341(c), requires agencies to pay both furloughed and excepted employees retroactively at the earliest date possible once a lapse ends. That protection is real — and it does not stop a missed paycheck while the lapse is happening. If you can build a cushion between now and October, this is the season to do it.

What to Do Between Now and September

• Watch the first two weeks of September. That is when the House vote either happens or does not.
• Do not act on rumors about your furlough status. Excepted, exempt, and furloughed are specific designations, and they come from your agency in writing.
• Keep copies of any shutdown guidance your agency issues, including furlough notices and recall instructions. If a dispute comes later, those documents are the record.

The Practical Takeaway

The odds of an October 1 shutdown went down considerably on Saturday. They did not go to zero. The thing standing between here and there is a single House vote that cannot happen for another three weeks — so plan for the likely outcome, and prepare for the other one.

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Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation. You can contact Southworth PC at attorneysforfederalemployees.com.