President Donald Trump signed a short-term government funding measure that maintains current funding levels for federal agencies through Dec. 11, including several programs supporting oral health, dental research and the dental workforce. 

The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 provides temporary funding for federal agencies, giving Congress additional time to negotiate full-year appropriations bills. 

The House approved the Senate-amended continuing resolution Sept. 1 by a 370-48 vote, following the Senate’s 90-6 passage of the measure in August. 

The legislation generally continues federal programs at fiscal year 2026 funding levels through Dec. 11. For dentistry, the measure preserves funding for key federal oral health programs, including:  

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oral Health Program - $21 million 

• Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA, Oral Health Workforce Programs - $43 million 

• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research - $525 million 

• Department of Defense Military Dental Research - $12 million 

• Indian Health Service Dental Program - $260 million 

The measure also offers continued support for other programs like HRSA Ryan White Dental, HRSA Medical-Dental Integration and VA dental efforts.  

The resolution delays immediate implementation of a proposed Office of Management and Budget, OMB, rule that would change how federal grants are reviewed and administered to states, research institutions, nonprofits and other recipients of federal financial assistance. The proposed overhaul would give political appointees unprecedented control over federal grantmaking decisions. The legislation blocks OMB from moving forward with the proposed changes at least through Dec. 11. 

Congress moved on the continuing resolution well ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline, pushing the next funding fight until after the November midterm elections. 

Congress will need to approve full-year appropriations legislation or another continuing resolution by Dec. 11 to prevent a funding lapse.