This is a stopgap funding bill that keeps the federal government running past October 1, 2026, when the new budget year starts, by temporarily continuing spending at current levels until December 4, 2026 (or until Congress passes real budget bills, whichever comes first). Without it, agencies would run out of authorized funding and much of the government would shut down. It also keeps a handful of specific things going in the meantime: flood insurance for homeowners in flood-prone areas, cash assistance for low-income families with children, extra funding flexibility for disaster relief after hurricanes and other emergencies, food assistance for pregnant women and young children, small-business loan programs, and health services for Native American communities. It also extends a pay freeze for Congress and top political appointees, and includes routine final payments owed to the families of two lawmakers who died in office.