Posted on September 30, 2025
This is a partial excerpt of NWC NEWS ALERT (SEPTEMBER 30, 2025)
GOVERNMENT FUNDING DEADLINE: WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT’S NEXT
At-a-Glance Summary
- Fiscal year 2026 begins at midnight with no appropriations in place.
- Senate votes today on rival stopgap bills, but neither has enough support to advance.
- Without a deal, the government shuts down at 12:01 a.m. ET Wednesday.
- Federal agencies activate contingency plans immediately; essential staff work, others furloughed.
- Impacts include delays in permits, contracts, and federal services.
- Programs tied to stopgap bills, like NFIP and TANF, expire unless extended.
- The Army Corps of Engineers can continue ongoing projects under a CR but cannot start new ones.
- Congress itself remains open and available for official business during a shutdown.
The USACE Twist: What CRs Mean for Corps Projects & Studies
Because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers depends on annual project-specific appropriations, CRs have particular consequences:
- Ongoing work continues, but no new studies or projects can begin until a full-year bill is enacted.
- Funding rigidity: CRs limit how funds can be shifted among accounts, making it harder to respond to changing needs.
- Momentum stalls: Projects poised to begin construction or feasibility phases are delayed.
- Planning uncertainty: Districts and sponsors cannot reliably forecast future timelines or funding streams.
Why This Matters to You
A shutdown isn’t just political theater. It affects permits, grants, contracts, and the ability of federal agencies to work with partners on infrastructure, navigation, flood control, and water resources projects. Even if those programs eventually receive back pay or retroactive authority, delays can ripple into planning and construction seasons, regulatory approvals, and the broader economy.
If a CR passes instead, agencies stay open, but they remain frozen at old funding levels. That creates its own kind of uncertainty, because no one can start new projects or initiatives until a full-year appropriations package is finally in place.
Looking Ahead
We’ll continue to track developments closely as Congress works toward a resolution. These situations can shift quickly, and while we strive to provide clear, accurate information, there are always details that emerge in real time once agencies begin implementing their contingency plans.
If you are based in Washington or have firsthand updates on how a shutdown is affecting your agency or project, please share them with us. Your perspective helps us keep the broader NWC community informed. We will include relevant insights in future updates.
Julie A. Ufner
President and CEO National Waterways Conference (NWC)
