House GOP Unveils Stopgap Funding Bill; DCUC Says Measure Avoids Shutdown, Leaves CU Priorities Unchanged
By CU Today Staff —
WASHINGTON—House Republicans on Friday released a continuing resolution that would fund most federal agencies at fiscal 2026 levels through Dec. 4, setting up a vote expected next week as Congress seeks to avert a government shutdown before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
According to Politico, House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday he expects to bring the legislation to the House floor next week.
According to an overview by the Defense Credit Union Council, the measure carries no direct implications for credit unions' federal tax exemption or other long-debated industry priorities. The legislation does not alter the Federal Credit Union Act, interchange policy, member business lending limits, field-of-membership rules, digital asset authority, the Central Liquidity Facility, or the NCUSIF.
Instead, DCUC said the bill's primary benefit for credit unions is preventing the disruption that would accompany a federal shutdown.
DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak noted the measure would keep government agencies operating, allowing financial services, housing, veterans, disaster-response and small-business programs to continue while avoiding financial uncertainty for servicemembers, veterans, federal employees, contractors and other credit union members.
DCUC also pointed to provisions extending the National Flood Insurance Program through Dec. 4, helping avoid interruptions to mortgage closings in flood-prone areas, while allowing the Small Business Administration to continue meeting demand for its 7(a), 504 and related loan guarantee programs. The organization added that appropriated NCUA programs, including Community Development Revolving Loan Fund grants, would continue under current funding levels, while the agency's independently funded regulatory and share insurance functions would remain largely unaffected.
The stopgap measure would generally extend fiscal 2026 funding levels and authorities through Dec. 4 while barring the start of most new federal programs during the extension period, giving lawmakers additional time to complete full-year appropriations legislation.
DCUC concluded the proposal is favorable for credit unions because it averts the immediate operational and member-service consequences of a government shutdown. At the same time, the trade association noted the measure simply delays final fiscal 2027 spending decisions until December and does not provide any new legislative relief for the credit union industry.
"Defense credit unions understand better than most that uncertainty comes with a real cost," said Anthony Hernandez, DCUC president and CEO. "For the millions of servicemembers, military families, veterans, Coast Guard personnel, and federal civilian employees our member credit unions serve, keeping the government open is critical to maintaining financial stability and confidence. We appreciate Congress' efforts to avoid a government shutdown and provide temporary funding while work continues on full-year appropriations."
"A continuing resolution provides important short-term certainty, but it should not become the long-term strategy for governing. America's servicemembers, military families, Coast Guard personnel, veterans, and the financial institutions that serve them deserve the stability that only full-year appropriations can provide. Every funding deadline creates unnecessary anxiety for families already carrying the burdens of military service and for the credit unions working every day to support them," Stverak added.
Originally reported by CU Today.