What it actually is

A continuing resolution (CR) is a stopgap appropriations law Congress uses to keep federal operations running when it has not finished the regular appropriations process.

Rather than setting new, long-term funding levels, a CR often continues prior-year funding amounts and rules for a limited time. It is meant to prevent a lapse in funding that could lead to a government shutdown.

A CR is a temporary fix, not a final budget. It gives Congress more time to negotiate and pass the detailed appropriations bills that set funding for the full year.

How it works

Under normal practice, Congress is supposed to pass annual appropriations bills that fund different parts of the government. When those bills are not finished by the start of the fiscal year or another deadline, Congress may pass a CR with an expiration date.

A CR must be approved by both the House and Senate and be signed by the president (or enacted over a veto) to become law. A CR can cover the whole government or only selected agencies, depending on what lawmakers include.

CRs commonly continue prior-year funding levels, but lawmakers can also include short-term changes, set different end dates for different programs, or attach temporary policy provisions (so-called riders).

A real example

Congress frequently turns to CRs at the start of a fiscal year to avoid a funding lapse while negotiating final appropriations. These short-term measures sometimes last a few weeks and sometimes are extended for months.

In practice, a CR may be followed by a final appropriations package once negotiations finish, or it may be renewed one or more times if agreement is delayed.

Why it matters to you

A CR keeps many government services and operations that rely on annual appropriations running—things like federal pay for many employees and public-facing services such as national parks—so it reduces the chance of abrupt disruptions tied to a funding lapse.

But because CRs often freeze funding at prior levels, they can delay new programs, purchases, or hiring, creating uncertainty for agencies, contractors, and others who depend on federal funding.

Common misunderstandings

A continuing resolution is not the same as a full, final budget—it's a temporary measure to buy time while Congress finishes appropriations.

A CR is also different from actions like raising the debt limit or passing permanent policy changes: it mainly authorizes spending for a short period and can include temporary policy riders, but it is not intended as a long-term fiscal plan.