Members of Congress returned to Washington on Monday to confront a stalled fiscal 2027 appropriations process. The House Appropriations Committee faces pressure to advance spending bills before the August recess.

The federal government's current funding authority expires at the end of September, giving lawmakers roughly three months to pass a dozen appropriations bills or a stopgap continuing resolution. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he wants the chamber to complete work on individual spending measures rather than rely on a single omnibus package.

Disputes over topline spending levels, funding for the Department of Homeland Security, and policy riders have slowed progress in both chambers. Democrats have objected to proposed cuts to domestic programs, while conservative Republicans have pressed for deeper reductions and additional border security funding.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins of Maine has urged a bipartisan approach to avoid another year-end funding crisis. Committee aides said markups of several spending bills were expected in the coming weeks as leadership sought to demonstrate progress.

The stakes are heightened by the November midterm campaign, which will compress the legislative calendar and raise the risk of a government shutdown fight in the autumn. Analysts at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget have warned that a stopgap measure remains the most likely outcome.