Last night, the Senate passed the “laddered” Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend government funding at current levels and avoid a government shutdown. The bill now goes to the President, who is expected to sign it before funding under the current CR expires Friday night.

The “laddered” CR keeps funding at current levels until January 19, 2024, for agencies and programs funded by the Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD appropriations bills. The NTEU-represented agencies facing the January 19 deadline are USDA, FDA, DOE, and NRC. Agencies and programs funded by the remaining bills—Defense, Homeland Security, State and Foreign Affairs, Legislative Branch, Financial Services and General Government, Interior, Labor-HHS, and Commerce, Justice, Science—would see their funding extended at current levels until February 2, 2024. 

Although we are pleased that a shutdown was averted once again, there is concern that the “laddered” CR approach will increase the chances for at least a partial shutdown to occur next year. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said yesterday that he will not pass another short-term spending bill and House Republicans continue to push for significant cuts to agency funding levels and controversial policy riders, increasing the likelihood of at least a partial shutdown when we reach these next deadlines.