Last night, the U.S. House cast its final vote to approve the Senate-passed funding package to reopen the federal government. The measure passed 222–209, and President Donald Trump signed it. With this action, the nearly 43-day shutdown comes to an end, and a temporary path forward is now in place.
Funding Implications
The package includes a three-bill “minibus” that fully funds the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Agriculture, as well as the legislative branch, through next September. All remaining federal agencies will continue operating at fiscal year 2025 levels under a continuing resolution set to expire on January 30.
Military Pay
During the shutdown, the Administration ensured active-duty military personnel continued to receive pay by redirecting roughly $8 billion in un-obligated defense funds. While effective in the short term, this workaround is not a durable replacement for standard appropriations, and it did not cover all uniformed services. Should another shutdown emerge after January 30, military compensation could again become a point of concern.
SNAP
The agreement fully funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September, preserving essential support for the more than 40 million Americans who rely on food assistance.
Federal Workers
The package also adds meaningful, though temporary, protections for federal employees who have faced prolonged uncertainty. It reinstates thousands of positions eliminated during the shutdown, reverses ongoing reductions in force (including those impacting the CDFI Fund) that remain paused under a federal court order, prohibits agencies from carrying out any RIFs through January, and guarantees full back pay for furloughed employees and those who worked without pay during the past six weeks.
Thank You for Helping Members
Throughout this shutdown, credit unions across Tennessee supported members with solutions, from offering skip-a-pays and emergency loans to providing financial counseling and direct outreach to affected families. Your leadership ensured that people facing uncertainty had a trusted partner to rely on when it mattered most.
As this now ranks among the longest shutdowns in U.S. history, the possibility of another funding lapse on January 30 remains significant. We will continue monitoring developments closely and provide updates, particularly regarding impacts on credit union operations and member service.
Thank you for everything you do. Your hard work truly makes a difference for your members, your communities and the entire credit union movement.
