On November 12, 2025, the President signed a stopgap funding package (H.R.5371) to end the 44-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. In general, this legislation allows the federal government to resume normal operations. It includes a continuing resolution, which would extend government funding for most programs at pro-rata FY 2025 levels through January 30, 2026. This includes programs in the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with programs at the Indian Health Service that do not receive advance appropriations, such as Health Care and Sanitation Facilities Construction.
The legislation also contains full-year appropriations for programs in the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Legislative Branch. This includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and USDA has indicated that the funding should be available for beneficiaries within 24 hours of the end of the shutdown.[1]
Outside of appropriations, the continuing resolution contains several policy riders pertinent to Indian Country. Specifically, it extends the following through January 30, 2026:
- funding the Special Diabetes Programs for Indians (SDPI) at $159 million annualized, which is generally equivalent to prior year appropriations for SDPI;
- an extension of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities, which allows IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian programs to resume billing Medicare for tele-visits; and
- an extension of Community Health Center and National Health Service Corps funding.
In addition, the Farm Bill is extended through September 30, 2026. The Farm Bill contains several Tribal provisions, such as USDA’s self-determination authority.
The legislation contains several provisions that seek to mitigate the impact the government shutdown had throughout the country. First, it clarifies that furloughed federal workers will receive back pay. Second, it reverses federal worker layoffs that occurred during the shutdown, such as those in the Office of Indian Education, and prevents future reductions in force (RIFs) through January 30, 2026. Finally, the bill includes a provision ensuring state and federal grantees will be reimbursed for the costs they incurred to keep federal programs going during the shutdown.
[1] Cunningham, M. (2025, November 12). SNAP benefits likely to resume quickly after government shutdown ends, experts say. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/snap-benefits-timeline-government-shutdown/
