- The longest US government shutdown may be coming to an end
- A new bill would close a gap in critical funding for the CISA Act and the FCEA
- The shutdown will resume in 2026 if no agreement is reached
A critical lapse in funding for the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA Act) and the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (FCEA) has been stopped by a bill that extends funding into January 2026.
The short-term funding will allow one of the most critical information-sharing frameworks to continue operating, allowing the federal government to keep an eye on potential cybersecurity threats.
The bill is only a stop-gap, however, and required Republicans and eight Democrats to agree on a handshake deal to hold a vote on extending tax-credit subsidies under the Affordable Care Act by the end of December 2025.
The new deadline: January 2026
The bill is essential for the CISA Act and the FCEA to continue working, and will close a gap in America’s cyber defenses since Oct. 1, when funding for both laws expired.
The CISA Act was enacted to provide a framework for information sharing and liability protection for private companies that shared threat information with the federal government, while the FCEA established standards and procedures to improve the security of critical infrastructure.
The 94-page bill passed the US Senate after 11 hours of deliberation and a 60-40 vote, and will go to a second vote in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday before arriving at the White House to await President Trump’s signature.
If signed into law, the bill would extend funding into January 2026, giving both Republicans and Democrats breathing room to agree on next steps.
But it probably won’t be easy. Democrats have prioritized extending health tax credits under the Affordable Care Act through 2026, something Republican leadership has vehemently rejected throughout the shutdown. Without the credit subsidies, about 24 million Americans could see their health insurance costs jump significantly.
Unless Republicans and Democrats reach an agreement, this brief respite in the government shutdown is likely to expire in January 2026.
“The proposed temporary extension of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act is fantastic and really important to national security,” commented Gary Barlet, Public Sector CTO at Illumio.
“For years, the Act has been the cornerstone of trusted threat intelligence sharing between the public and private sectors, delivering speed, security and trust.”
“But if businesses are truly expected to trust it and buy into it, there needs to be real, long-term extension of CISA 2025. We should be making cooperation easier, not harder. That requires coordination, transparency and a strong federal framework. Congress must act quickly to restore these protections and demonstrate a clear commitment to defending digital infrastructure.”
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