FY2021 Appropriations

Last Updated: July 7, 2021

In July, the House is considering appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2021. This year’s appropriations debate occurs as the U.S. is in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession. It also marks the last year of appropriations under the Budget Control Act of 2011 and subsequent budget caps deals. This explainer covers the basics of the appropriations process, provides context on FY2021 budget caps, lays out options for increasing spending, and reviews select policy riders that Congress has attached to previous appropriations bills.