March 13, 2024: The Last Hurdles for FY2024 Spending

 
 

Congress has less than two weeks to wrap up the remaining six spending bills that will fund the government for the rest of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. We recap where things stand and the biggest questions.

Six Bills Down, Six to Go

Six months into FY2024, Congress approved six of the 12 FY2024 appropriations bills last week. You can read more about that package in our March 4 update. Congress must pass the six outstanding bills by March 22 when current funding expires. The spending fight is far from over as the remaining six bills constitute the bulk of federal spending (around 70 percent). Historically, these bills are also more contentious with things like military spending, immigration, and foreign aid. 

Reporting indicates Congress plans to fashion one package containing all six bills: 

  1. Defense

  2. Financial Services and General Government (FSGG)

  3. Homeland Security

  4. Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS)

  5. Legislative Branch (Leg. Branch)

  6. State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS)

FY2024 Topline NumbersOutstanding Wue

The primary issue to watch is how much funding various bills and federal programs get—but that’s not the only matter that remains unresolved. Below are two key ones: 

  1. Will poison pill riders make it over the finish line? Last week’s spending package left out most of the House GOP’s proposed policy riders that would have blocked initiatives to reduce gun violence, kneecapped IRS efforts to catch wealthy tax dodgers, and limited food options for families receiving SNAP, to name just a handful. Far-right Members are seeking additional policy changes in the remaining bills, including allowing discrimination against LGBTQIA people, blocking the adoption of electric vehicles, restricting access to abortion care and contraception, and much more. Remember: Democratic votes are necessary to pass these bills, and Democratic leaders have made clear that Democrats will not vote for extremist riders. See our February 12 update for more on that dynamic. 

  2. Which earmarks will Congress fund? Community project funding (a.k.a. earmarks) brings federal money to projects in Members’ districts. When Republicans took over the House, they established new rules, banning earmarks from the Defense, FSGG, and Labor-HHS bills. These bills have previously funded hospital equipment upgrades, suicide prevention programs, home-based care for older adults, and more. Lawmakers must decide whether to follow the House or Senate’s rules—and, accordingly, determine whether projects like these will get federal backing. See our January 19 update for more on this topic. 

We’ll continue to break down major developments on federal spending—in the meantime, please share Unrig the Rules updates with your network! The CPC Center’s Unrig the Rules program shares regular updates and analysis on developments in Congress. You can find our previous updates and sign up for future ones here. 

Cat Rowland