9.2.25 - Big September Deadlines to Know

This is the first issue of Unrig the Rules since July, so for folks who are new to this newsletter—welcome! The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center’s Unrig the Rules updates break down what’s happening in Congress and the executive branch and what it means for you so that everyone has the knowledge they need to make their voices heard when it counts.

Congress is back in DC after a month-long recess with some major deadlines on the horizon. Below is a brief rundown of two big dates to track in September and their implications.

September 10 — Washington, DC Takeover 

Despite a 30-year low in violent crime in DC, the president declared a “crime emergency” on August 11, sending the National Guard into Washington and seizing control of the DC police department for 30 days. That window ends on September 10—but the president has said, “we're going to want extensions.” Congress must approve such an extension, and Republicans have introduced legislation to do so for six months or in perpetuity. At the same time, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have introduced legislation to terminate the president’s “emergency” declaration. Whether Republican leaders indeed schedule a vote to extend the federal DC takeover—and, if so, for how long—remains to be seen. 

September 30 — Shutdown Showdown and More 

Government Funding Runs Out 

Funding to keep the government open runs out at the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, on September 30. To avoid a government shutdown, Congress must approve a new government funding package for FY 2026 or pass a continuing resolution (CR) that keeps the government operating on current funding levels for a specified period. 

Tl;dr: there is zero chance of passing a new FY 2026 package before September 30. Congress hasn’t made enough progress to make this feasible. 

Congress could approve a short-term bill (continuing resolution, or CR) to allow for more progress on FY 2026 funding. However, complicating things further is the administration’s disregard for the funding laws Congress has passed. In July, at President Trump’s behest, Republicans clawed back federal funding Congress had previously approved on a bipartisan basis. Then, last week the White House announced that it would illegally refuse to spend additional Congressionally-approved funds. 

These repeated refusals to carry out funding laws beg the question—how does Congress reach an agreement to fund the government, knowing the White House is willing to flout that agreement even after it’s been enshrined in the law? 

Other Deadlines 

September 30 is also the deadline to extend funding for community health centers; Medicare coverage for telehealth care; and certain farm bill programs. Should there be a government funding measure—short or long term—before the end of the month, these extensions could hitch a ride into law. 

If you’d like a live update for your group or coalition, reach out to catherine@progressivecaucuscenter.org. Thanks!