Hardwood Floors February/March 2026

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

ALL PHOTOS ADOBESTOCK ©

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THIS YEAR?

Although passage of the bill was a huge relief for the many people, communities, and companies reliant on federal programs and functions paralyzed by the shutdown, it is not quite the end of the story. The bill only extended funding for most federal government operations through January 30, 2026, which means members of Congress may face another period of intense negotiations if they hope to avoid another disruption to federal government operations. However, some government entities were provided full funding through the end of the 2026 fiscal year (ending September 30, 2026). The bill signed in November includes full fiscal year 2026 appropriations for the Departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs, as well as Legislative Branch Operations. The good news for the hardwood industry is that by including full 2026 funding for USDA, vital programs for the agricultural sector, including program funding for the export promotion

The final quarter of 2025 was a bit of a roller coaster. Tension and partisan bickering punctuated much of the last months of the year as the longest government funding lapse in history (43 long days) dragged on. On November 12, the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed legislation (H.R. 5371) to end the shutdown. The vote to fund the government was along party lines and the president signed the measure shortly thereafter.

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