#  Congress Set to Extend Government Funding to December 20 

 





September 25, 2024

 

 

Today, the House passed (341-82) a continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown and extend current funding levels for three months through December 20. The Senate is expected to pass the bill in a few hours, and the President is poised to add his signature before the end of the fiscal year on September 30. The CR comes after months of preliminary appropriations work in the House and Senate and on the heels of last week’s failed attempt by the House GOP to pass a partisan six-month CR that included a controversial election-security bill.

The bipartisan CR emerged from leadership discussions and holds steady current funding levels across the board, with very few exceptions. It includes a few essential additions, including several Medicare and Medicaid authorities and the Secret Service will receive an additional $231 million to increase presidential candidate security. Notably not included in the CR are the election security bill, funding to patch an estimated $12 billion budget shortfall at the Department of Veterans Affairs. and supplemental FEMA funding to respond to this summer’s various natural disasters.

With a new funding deadline of Friday, December 20, Congress will resume negotiations over final fiscal year 2025 (FY25) funding when the Congress reconvenes for a lame duck session soon after the November elections. While a majority of members are pushing for completion of final FY25 appropriations bills or an omnibus of these measures, it may be that the politics coming out of the elections dictate an additional CR into the early months of the new year and the new Congress and Administration. That said, there are significant downsides of this approach both to national defense programs and domestic programs and initiatives, so we anticipate significant efforts and pressure to complete the process.

Beyond FY25, we anticipate the lame duck session will include final action on the FY25 National Defense Reauthorization bill as well as a flurry of wrap-up business. Potentially, this could include a farm bill reauthorization, legislation on online safety for children, and NASA reauthorization.

**Next Steps**

Harvard’s DC-based Office of Federal Relations will remain closely engaged in support of University priorities and will be tracking the election results. On November 6, we expect to circulate a detailed analysis of the election, including the results for Massachusetts and alumni running for federal office nationwide. Please feel free to reach out to Suzanne Day ([suzanne\_day@harvard.edu](mailto:suzanne_day@harvard.edu)), Kara Haas ([kara\_haas@harvard.edu](mailto:kara_haas@harvard.edu)), or Peter DeYoe ([peter\_deyoe@harvard.edu](mailto:peter_deyoe@harvard.edu)) with any questions.



 

 

 



 

 

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