Full Committee Hearing – Funding Lapses: Analyzing Shutdown Reform

The House Appropriations Committee held a full committee hearing on July 23, 2026, titled "Funding Lapses: Analyzing Shutdown Reform." The hearing focused on legislative proposals aimed at preventing government shutdowns and reforming the appropriations process. Key discussions centered on two main bills: Senator James Lankford's Prevent Government Shutdown Act, which proposes an automatic continuing resolution (CR) with strict requirements for members of Congress to remain in session until appropriations are completed, and Representative Tom McClintock's bill to amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to expedite consideration of appropriations bills in the Senate by limiting filibuster-like delays. Former OMB Director Shalanda Young provided expert testimony cautioning that automatic CRs could empower bad actors and weaken Congress's power of the purse by shifting authority to the executive branch. Members debated the constitutional implications, the impact on federal workers and contractors, and the importance of bipartisan compromise. The hearing underscored the challenges of the current budget process, including delays in presidential budget submissions and Senate procedural hurdles, and highlighted the need for political will and institutional reforms to ensure timely and effective government funding. No votes were taken during the hearing, but the discussion laid groundwork for potential legislative action to address recurring funding lapses and shutdowns.