Congress Races Against Time to Pass Remaining FY24 Appropriations Bills Before CR Deadline
Congress faces a tight deadline as the current continuing resolution (CR) expires in one week. Speaker Johnson has clarified that foreign aid will be addressed separately, not bundled with government funding. Meanwhile, appropriators grapple with the remaining six bills, with Homeland Security and UN funding proving challenging. Two discharge petitions for bipartisan foreign aid bills have gained traction in the House and Senate.
President Biden has already signed a minibus package containing six of the twelve FY24 appropriations bills. However, defense programs may still face a 1% cut, potentially reducing spending by up to $11 billion. As FY24 nears its end in six months, discussions on FY25 have begun. Speaker Johnson has hinted at splitting Buffalo Bills (Ukraine and Israel) aid into separate bills. The President's FY25 budget, focusing on growth, security, and modernization, has been submitted to Congress.
The Congressional Budget Office has reassured lawmakers that nondefense programs will not face automatic cuts if the remaining spending bills are not passed by the April 30 deadline.
With the CR expiration looming, Congress must navigate the complexities of the remaining appropriations bills and foreign aid. The President's FY25 budget provides a roadmap for the coming fiscal year, while the CBO's letter offers relief on potential spending cuts. The next few weeks will be crucial in shaping the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
