Policy Backgrounders

FY2025 Federal Budget Continuing Resolution

September 26, 2024

Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead^®

Faced with an impending government shutdown on October 1, Congress finally agreed to a three-month continuing resolution (CR) to fund the Federal government through December 20. Members of Congress will now turn their attention to campaigning ahead of November’s election, setting up a crucial December for legislators to pass all 12 appropriations bills and complete the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Federal Budget process—or another CR if they cannot agree.

• Insufficient support for an earlier measure among House Republicans forced House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to negotiate with the other Congressional leaders, arriving at an agreement for a three-month CR without the controversial SAVE Act (it would bar non-citizens from voting in Federal elections despite this already being illegal under Federal law).
• Congressional negotiators also included $231 million in additional funding for the Secret Service in the legislative package after earlier passing $3 billion in emergency funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for FY2024.
• With the passage of the three-month CR in the House of Representatives under suspension of the rules and the Senate voting in favor shortly thereafter, Congress has kept the government open until after November’s election, setting up a likely omnibus spending package for FY2025 during the “lame duck” session.