Interim Congressional Agreement Could End US Government Shutdown

The longest US government shutdown may be coming to an end
New Bill Will Fill Critical Funding Gap for CISA Act and FCEA
Closure will resume in 2026 if no agreement is reached

A critical gap in funding for the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA Act) and the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (FCEA) has been plugged by a bill that extends funding through January 2026.

The short-term funding will allow one of the most critical information sharing frameworks to remain operational, allowing the federal government to monitor potential cybersecurity threats.

However, the bill is only a stopgap and required Republicans and eight Democrats to reach a handshake agreement to hold a vote on extending tax credit subsidies under the Affordable Care Act before the end of December 2025.

The new deadline: January 2026

The bill is critical to keeping the CISA Act and the FCEA working, and will close a gap left in U.S. cyber defense since October 1, when funding for both laws expired.

The CISA Act was introduced to provide an information sharing framework and liability protection for private companies that shared threat information with the federal government, while the FCEA introduced standards and procedures to improve the security of critical infrastructure.

The 94-page bill passed the US Senate after an 11-hour deliberation and a 60-40 vote, and will move to a second vote in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, before arriving at the White House to await President Trump’s signature.

If signed into law, the bill would extend funding through January 2026, giving Republicans and Democrats breathing room to agree on next steps.

But it probably won’t be easy. Democrats have prioritized an extension of health care tax credit subsidies under the Affordable Care Act through 2026, which Republican leadership has steadfastly rejected during the shutdown. Without the credit subsidies, about 24 million Americans could see their health insurance costs rise significantly.

Unless Republicans and Democrats reach consensus, this brief respite from the government shutdown is likely to expire in January 2026.

“The proposed temporary extension of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act is great and really important for national security,” said Gary Barlet, Illumio’s public sector CTO.

“For years, the Act has been the cornerstone of trusted threat intelligence sharing between the public and private sectors, providing speed, security and trust.”

“However, if businesses are truly expected to trust and embrace it, there needs to be a true long-term extension of CISA 2025. We should make collaboration easier, not harder. That requires coordination, transparency, and a strong federal framework. Congress must act quickly to restore these protections and demonstrate a clear commitment to defending digital infrastructure.”