Topic: Politics
by MPeriod
Posted 9 months ago
The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a bill to fund the government until September 30. This bill is designed to prevent a government shutdown. Below are key points regarding the bill and its implications.
A Continuing Resolution (CR) is a temporary funding measure that allows the government to continue operating when new appropriations bills have not been passed. This 99-page bill primarily continues funding from fiscal year 2024 but claims to reduce overall spending.
The House Republican proposal includes:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Spending Reduction | About $7 billion cut from fiscal 2024 levels |
| Non-Defense Cuts | Approximately $13 billion cut from non-defense discretionary spending |
| Defense Increase | About $6 billion increase in defense spending |
The increase in defense spending includes a previously approved pay rise for junior military personnel, along with added funds for warships and other military equipment.
The CR does not incorporate any proposed spending cuts from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned that Republicans plan to include these in the FY2026 budget process.
This funding resolution pertains solely to discretionary spending, which constitutes about a third of the $6.75 trillion federal budget. Notably, it does not affect mandatory spending programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which account for 40% of the increase in spending from the previous fiscal year. Additionally, it does not cover interest payments on the national debt exceeding $36 trillion, which surpassed $1 trillion last year.