September 9, 2026 – In a move to keep money flowing and the government open, President Donald J. Trump signed into law a Continuing Resolution that funds the Federal Government, including Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 also provides a short-term extension of the Surface Transportation Authorization through December 11, 2026. The bill was set to expire on September 30, 2026. 

While the measure keeps Surface Transportation Authorization programs alive for now, the bill also delivers what critics describe as deathly cuts to public transit and passenger rail. The bill does not include advance appropriations; a form of guaranteed funding provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Without appropriations, the bill cuts public transit investment by 20% and funding for passenger rail by 81%. 

The stop gap funding bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers of Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly told Politico a new Surface Transportation Reauthorization is a priority that members will work to get done this year. Back in May, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) approved The BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870). The bipartisan, five-year surface transportation reauthorization legislation would authorize approximately $580 billion from fiscal year (FY) 2027 through FY31. 

"The BUILD America 250 Act makes key investments in the nation’s transportation – from restoring aging bridges and repairing crumbling roads to building out safe, accessible transit and bike infrastructure," said Ranking T& I Member (D) Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington State. "A commitment to bipartisan lawmaking means finding compromise; while this bill does not include every priority, I am committed to building on the last bipartisan infrastructure law by creating good-paying transportation jobs, growing the economy and safely transporting people and goods across the country by road and rail." 

Congressman Larsen and other members of the T& I Committee will speak directly to COMTO members during our first fully virtual A View from The Hill, Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., EST. To join the webinar, register here.