The Daily Dig:
Congress has released the final set of negotiated appropriation measures intended to complete fiscal year 2026 funding ahead of the January 30 deadline. The package is structured as a two-bill effort. H.R. 7148 combines three appropriations titles, Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. While H.R. 7147 carries the standalone Homeland Security funding measure. Together, they represent the last unresolved portions of the FY 2026 appropriations process.
The bills have been negotiated and made public but still require passage by both the House and Senate. Until enacted, federal agencies continue operating under the current continuing resolution. If approved, the measures would provide full year appropriations through September 30, 2026, allowing agencies tied to infrastructure, housing, transportation, and defense to operate without short-term funding constraints.
Snapshot:
Funding Coverage: Defense; Labor-HHSāEducation; Transportation-HUD (H.R. 7148) and Homeland Security (H.R. 7147)
Package Size: Approximately $1.2 trillion across the final FY 2026 appropriations measures
Relevance to Construction: Highways, transit, housing programs, federal facilities, defense construction
Status: Bills released; awaiting House and Senate passage
Funding Window (if enacted): Through September 30, 2026
TheJobWalk Thoughts:
Agencies are still limping along under a CR, which means they're operating week-to-week instead of planning ahead. If these bills pass, program offices can stop watching the calendar and actually obligate funds. For contractors, that means fewer starts and stops, clearer timelines, and less administrative nonsense. It's not new work, it's finally getting the green light to move what's already been sitting there waiting.
