With the end of the fiscal year approaching on September 30, the House of Representatives briefly returned to Washington last week to approve temporary government through December 11, 2026. Passed by the Senate in early August and signed by the President last Wednesday, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2027 averted an October 1st government shutdown by extending current funding levels beyond the midterm elections. The move allows lawmakers to return to the campaign trail by pushing the appropriations process into the lame duck session. It is unclear if the House will return to Washington before the November 3rd elections, but the Senate is scheduled to return next Monday for three weeks.