In a message sent today to all U.S. senators, First Focus Campaign for Children urged lawmakers to separate the five, remaining bipartisan FY26 annual spending bills from the Homeland Security bill and pass that five-bill minibus in time to avoid another government shutdown that would prevent critical services from reaching children and their families across the country.
First Focus Campaign for Children’s analysis found that three of the remaining FY26 bills—Labor/HHS, Transportation/HUD, and National Security/Department of State —fund 175 programs serving children and families and represent 88 percent of federal discretionary investments in children. The message to senators noted that even a short shutdown would create uncertainty for families, threaten access to basic necessities, and undermine the long-term impact of these programs.