March 26, 2024: FY2024 funding ✅ FY2025 funding 🤔

 
 

Last week, Congress completed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations bills, keeping the government funded through September 30. Now, lawmakers will turn their attention to FY2025. Here’s what to expect. 

What to expect when you’re not expecting another funding deal 

Congress has about six months until the approved spending bills expire on September 30. That’s also when Congress will kick off a six-week recess ahead of November’s Election Day. Members will be eager to head home to their districts—not spend extra time on Capitol Hill hammering out a new spending deal, taking potentially unpopular votes, or dealing with a shutdown’s fallout. 

The upshot: Congress probably won’t finish FY2025 spending bills on time and will pass at least one short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open through early November. This has been Congress’ playbook over the past decade: since 2014, Congress has never finished all 12 appropriations bills on time in an election year. See the chart below for more details: 

 
 

Bottom line: in every election year for the past decade, Congress has had to extend its funding deadlines three or more times and, on average, finalized appropriations bills 4.5 months late. Don’t expect FY2025 to be different. 

Adding to the usual hurdles, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) announced last week she’ll step down from her post atop the spending committee. Filling that vacancy could mean delays as the committee gets the ball rolling for FY2025. 

We’ll keep you posted as this year’s appropriations plans become clearer. 

A programming note & request for feedback

These Unrig the Rules updates have tracked the FY2024 funding process since FY2024 began last year. While we plan to continue updating you on the state of play around Capitol Hill’s biggest debates, these emails will come less frequently without a looming shutdown on the horizon. 

In the meantime, please encourage your network to sign up for Unrig the Rules updates! Folks can find our previous updates and sign up for future ones here. We appreciate your helping spread the word about our program to keep stakeholders informed about what’s going on in Congress and what it means. 

In addition, feel free to email me at catherine@progressivecaucuscenter.org to share feedback on Unrig the Rules! Your input helps us ensure these updates and analyses are useful. 

Cat Rowland