Congress Reaches Agreement on FY25 Funding, Averts Second Shutdown

The House of Representatives voted to end the longest government shutdown in history, passing a stopgap funding bill that will keep spending levels at FY24 levels until January 30. The bill also provides funding for a handful of specific defense programs, including the E-7 Wedgetail program. Furloughed workers will receive backpay, and workers who were fired during the shutdown will be reinstated. The bill was signed into law by President Trump, and the government will reopen. The House and Senate will reconvene in January to try to pass a FY26 budget, which could potentially lead to another shutdown if an agreement cannot be reached. The bill was passed with a vote of 222-209, with seven Democrats and one Independent Senator voting with Republicans to pass the bill in a 60-40 vote. One Republican Senator, Rand Paul from Kentucky, voted against the bill. For the most part, defense programs will have to operate under FY25 funding levels, which is to say, FY24 levels, as FY25 was a full-year continuing resolution. However, the bill provides additional funding for the E-7 Wedgetail program and 14 shipbuilding programs, including the Ford-class aircraft carrier program and the Virginia-class submarine program.