U.S. Senator Katie Britt Leads Senate Action to Reopen Government, End Longest Shutdown in American History, Pass Appropriations Bills Funding Critical Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today applauded the final passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR), as well as a package of several Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bills-including Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA), Legislative Branch, and Agriculture-which she spearheaded through the United States Senate. The new CR and appropriations package will now be sent to the U.S. House of Representatives, and then to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.

Senator Britt played a key role over the last several weeks in negotiating a path forward to reopen the government, maintaining constant communication with the White House and Trump Administration, as well as colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the Senate, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.Dak.), Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).

"After more than 40 days-marking the longest shutdown in American history-the undue suffering of the American people will soon come to an end. From the beginning, I have always viewed returning to regular order in our appropriations process as the best pathway forward. Ultimately, this package of appropriations bills, in addition to Republicans' continuing resolution, will reopen the government, fund critical programs like SNAP and WIC, ensure our nation's outstanding veterans have access to essential services, and pay our federal workers, Capitol police, and air traffic controllers.

"I'm deeply proud to have voted over 15 times to keep the government open and working for Alabamians and the American people. I'm also grateful for my Senate Republican colleagues, and colleagues across the aisle, who worked diligently to bring this shutdown to an end. I am honored to have played a role in the negotiations that led us to this point, and I look forward to continuing to work to put people over politics and make our government function again," said Senator Katie Britt.

BACKGROUND:

• Punchbowl News: The appropriators to watch in the next stage of the funding fight
• POLITICO: Britt and Schumer have rare bipartisan chat as senators feel out shutdown endgame
• CNBC: Sen. Katie Britt on shutdown: You can't break a logjam without having conversation
• Alabama Daily News: Britt involved in bipartisan talks on how to end the shutdown
• ABC News: Republican Sen. Katie Britt on shutdown: 'This is needless politics by the Democrats'
• Spectrum News: Senator Katie Britt urges Dems to reopen government
• CBS News: Sen. Katie Britt says Democrats need to "do the right thing" and reopen government
• Yellowhammer News: Katie Britt calls on Democrats to end government shutdown: 'People are sick of political theater'

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