After more than 43 days of the government shutdown, last Thursday, President Trump signed into law H.R. 5371, a measure to fund parts of the government for the remainder of the fiscal year (through next September) and temporarily fund all other functions of government on a short-term continuing resolution (CR) through January 30, 2026. The package also included a temporary extension of previously expired telehealth flexibilities through January 30.
Funding for Agriculture-FDA (including SNAP benefits), Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs were fully extended, leaving nine appropriations bills to be negotiated before the January deadline. This date was determined to avoid the pressure of agreeing to a package before the holidays, but will require significant focus in the New Years on many of the more controversial funding bills, including funding for the Departments of Labor and HHS where Argentum’s policy priorities are primarily located. House Republicans have proposed sweeping cuts to these departments, including programs that help to support senior living.
The Senate is also planning to hold a vote in December on extending funding for the expiring enhanced ACA health insurance subsidies. This was the primary negotiating point for Congressional Democrats in forcing the shutdown, and there is no guarantee they will have 60 votes to proceed to a final vote on the measure or even if it passes the Senate that it will be taken up for a vote in the House. Lawmakers from both parties are working on a healthcare legislative package that will find consensus.
Argentum Considerations:
- The Labor-HHS appropriations bill may have impacts for senior living, with potential sweeping cuts to federal workforce programs through the Employment and Training Agency, and potential cuts to HHS funding. We will be advocating against any cuts that will exacerbate current workforce challenges in the industry or that would cut access to programs currently in use by communities.
- The reopening of the government means that many Argentum-led meetings with the administration and Congressional offices will be able to resume. Argentum had scheduled meetings with the White House, CMS, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that had to be indefinitely postponed during the shutdown when officials were not permitted to meet.