On September 1, 2026, the U.S. House approved a continuing resolution (CR) previously passed by the Senate that funds the federal government through December 11, 2026. The CR averts a government shutdown and temporarily blocks the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from finalizing and implementing a proposed rule that would alter federal grantmaking processes.
The short-term measure provides stability for federal operations and programs that depend on appropriations, and it explicitly delays implementation of the OMB proposal that the American Heart Association and others have criticized. The CR’s pause on the rulemaking process applies only through the CR’s expiration date.
The American Heart Association issued a public statement welcoming Congress’ action to prevent a shutdown and to temporarily stop the OMB from finalizing its proposed grantmaking rule through December 11. The AHA framed the action as important to avoid disruptions to essential government services and to provide stability for researchers, public health agencies and community programs.
AHA leaders expressed concern that the OMB proposal would "fundamentally alter" how federally funded research and public health grants are awarded, reviewed and managed. The organization argued that for decades federal investments in biomedical research and public health have been guided by transparent, predictable and evidence-based processes grounded in independent expert review, and that the proposed rule threatens that foundation by creating unnecessary uncertainty.
While the AHA welcomed the temporary pause, it made clear that the CR alone is not enough. The association urged policymakers to pursue a bipartisan, durable solution that would block implementation of the OMB proposal beyond December 11. In other words, the AHA seeks a permanent protection for current grant review practices rather than a short-term stay.
In addition to blocking the rule permanently, the AHA called for a final appropriations package that includes robust funding for core public health and research agencies and programs. The association specifically named the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with nutrition and active transportation programs that support healthier communities.
According to the AHA statement, the CR’s immediate effect is to reduce short-term uncertainty that could disrupt grant-funded research and public health work. Researchers, institutions and community-based organizations rely on predictable timelines and independent review to plan projects, hire staff and deliver programs. The AHA warned that the OMB proposal would introduce unnecessary uncertainty for these stakeholders and could undermine processes that have enabled scientific advances and public health improvements.
The association emphasized that federal investments in biomedical research and public health have historically driven lifesaving discoveries and improved outcomes. Those investments also support community programs that reach millions of people nationwide, and changes to grantmaking could affect program continuity and the translation of research into practice.
The AHA urged that a final appropriations package should do more than block the proposed rule. It recommended robust investment in:
The organization linked these investments to prevention, reduced risk factors, longer lives and improved population health, calling them essential components of a comprehensive public health and research strategy.
The American Heart Association pledged to continue working with policymakers to protect independent scientific review, support community-based health programs and advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. The organization reiterated that a combination of strong investments in research and public health plus a permanent block of the proposed OMB grantmaking rule would help advance scientific discovery, strengthen communities and improve health outcomes for future generations.
About the American Heart Association: the AHA describes itself as a longstanding organization dedicated to extending and improving lives through research funding, public health advocacy and resources to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and stroke. The association said it looks forward to ongoing engagement with policymakers to ensure funding stability and to protect evidence-based, transparent grantmaking processes.
For media inquiries, the original release lists a media contact and provides general contact information for the association. The CR and the AHA’s response focus on federal funding stability and the need for durable policy and appropriations solutions to protect research, public health programs and community services beyond the CR’s December 11 lapse date.