Government Shutdown Looms as Congress’ Funding Deal Falls Through
By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter
A government shutdown looms over the U.S. government as Congress has yet to reach a consensus on a continuing resolution, or some other spending agreement, to fund the federal government past December 20.
If a deal isn’t reached by December 20, the federal government will shut down after midnight, and Congress will need to develop a new plan to end the shutdown. Earlier this week, Congressional leaders unveiled a short-term spending deal that would fund the federal government until March 14, 2025.
The initial continuing resolution would fund the government at the fiscal year 2024 levels through March 14, 2025, including the Department of Education (ED). That initial spending bill contained additional spending provisions like disaster relief, but it did not have any added funding impacting ED.
However, President-elect Donald Trump and members of his incoming administration voiced opposition to that plan, which was spearheaded by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and seemed to have garnered bipartisan support from key Democrats in both chambers. In a statement posted by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, both the incoming president and vice president called for Congress to pass a “streamlined spending bill that doesn’t give Chuck Schumer and the Democrats everything they want.” Trump has also called for new provisions to be added to a spending bill.
“Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025,” the statement reads. “The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill WITHOUT DEMOCRAT GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling. Anything else is a betrayal of our country.”
On Thursday evening, House Republicans put forward another spending plan in an effort to tailor the package to Trump’s requests. However, that bill was unable to garner enough support and failed on the House floor.
NASFAA will provide an update if Congress comes to an agreement on keeping the government open through our social media channels. If the government does shut down, NASFAA will monitor legislative activity over the planned holiday recess and provide an update when a new agreement is reached.
As a reminder, our next edition of Today’s News will be published on January 2, 2025.
Stay tuned to Today’s News for more details and to get the latest information on the federal budget process, see NASFAA’s Federal Budget and Appropriations page and NASFAA’s budget FAQs.
Publication Date: 12/20/2024
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