Continuing Resolution Lacks Advance Appropriations for Public Transportation

On September 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, by a vote of 370-48, clearing the bill for the President. The bill is both a Continuing Resolution that funds the federal government, including FTA, FRA, and USDOT programs, and a short-term Surface Transportation Authorization extension through December 11. Prior to House consideration, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 90-6.

It is critical that Congress enact a Surface Transportation Extension Act. Without it, surface transportation programs would shut down on October 1. However, the bill does not include advance appropriations, a form of guaranteed funding provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Without advance appropriations, the bill cuts federal public transit investment by 20 percent from current fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding levels. It cuts passenger rail investment by 81 percent, and passenger rail receives no guaranteed funding.

In a July 31 letter, APTA detailed the programs that will be disproportionately cut if advance appropriations are not provided in FY 2027, including Buses and Bus Facilities Grants, State of Good Repair Formula Grants, Capital Investment Grants (CIG), and FRA programs. APTA also joined multiple coalition letters supporting USDOT advance appropriations.

To date, Senate Democrats have sent three separate 2026 letters urging Congress to provide USDOT advance appropriations. In addition, on August 31, the bipartisan leaders of the House Problem Solvers Caucus sent a letter echoing the call for Congress to continue USDOT advance appropriations.

APTA has prepared the following resource tables of public transit funding levels and cuts:

The bill includes a provision that extends the disbursement authority of certain CIG projects that face impending lapses—a provision that APTA urged Congress to include. In addition, the bill prohibits the White House Office of Management and Budget from issuing a final rule on its proposed revisions to the “Uniform Guidance” through December 11. APTA urged Congress to prohibit implementation of the proposed rule (see coalition letter).

Join APTA’s Advocacy Efforts: Participate in the Fly-In on September 16

Learn More: See APTA’s Smart Guide to Surface Transportation Authorization and Advocacy Resource Center