NAPA offers update as shutdown sets record
UPDATE: The Senate voted on Nov. 9 to advance a bill that would fund the government through Jan. 30. The bill will need to be passed by the House of Representatives before President Donald Trump can sign it into law. Members of the House could be called back to Washington for a vote as early as this week. NAPA will continue to monitor these developments.
Government Shutdown Update & Implications for Transportation Funding
The ongoing government shutdown has now reached record-breaking length, with both parties continuing to assign blame.
The House of Representatives has been out of session since the end of September, while the Senate has failed to pass the House’s clean Continuing Resolution (CR) 13 times, underscoring deep divisions between the chambers.
A bipartisan group of senators, including Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL)—a strong NAPA PAC ally—has been engaged in negotiations aimed at breaking the stalemate. Britt recently emphasized the need for dialogue, telling MSN, “You can’t break a logjam without having conversation.”
However, progress remains limited, and an “off-ramp” has yet to emerge.
To date, State DOT contracts and federal reimbursement programs have not been significantly impacted. That said, industry observers warn that disruptions could begin if the shutdown extends past Thanksgiving.
NAPA shared these updates to members earlier in October on FHWA operations.
“While federal infrastructure investments continue to be processed during this historic shutdown, the longer this goes, the more uncertainty could arise as reimbursement checks to State DOTs could become less frequent,” NAPA Vice President of Government Affairs Nile Elam said. “A functioning government ensures that critical roadway construction and improvement projects across the country can advance without the potential of disruption in the weeks, and possibly months, ahead.”
The shutdown is also slowing legislative progress on Capitol Hill. House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) had originally aimed to advance a new Highway Bill out of committee by the end of 2025. However, Graves recently told Punchbowl News that the shutdown will likely delay committee work until early next year.
Graves reaffirmed the bill’s focus on core highway programs— “laying asphalt and pouring concrete”—and highlighted the need for all users to contribute to the system. He also pointed to emerging technologies such as drone deliveries and autonomous vehicles as potential future revenue sources for the Highway Trust Fund.
While end-of-year committee action now appears unlikely, a February markup could still keep the bill on track for passage later in 2026. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) has expressed similar optimism about advancing a Senate version on a similar timeline.
The current surface transportation reauthorization bill is set to expire Sept. 30, 2026.
Overall, while the shutdown is creating uncertainty and slowing legislative progress, there remains cautious optimism that both chambers could move forward with infrastructure legislation early next year once the government reopens.
NAPA continues to work behind the scenes with offices on highway drafting and promoting those policies directly benefitting asphalt producers.