Congress, Finally, Completes Funding for Current Fiscal Year

In a rush to the finish, the House and then the Senate both approved the final package of funding bills for the current fiscal year ending the constant threat of a shutdown caused by repeated continuing resolutions.

The House voted Friday morning to clear the package and immediately sent it to the Senate for action. Within hours, Senators began debate on the final six appropriations bills and ultimately voted for its approval.

This package provides funding for a number of NTEU-represented agencies including Treasury (and the IRS), CBP, FLETC, DoD, HHS, FEC, FCC, SEC and SSA.

Attention now turns to appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year which begins on Oct. 1. NTEU will forcefully push for appropriate funding and staffing for federal agencies and for Congress to put an end to this pattern of bringing us to the brink of a shutdown every few weeks or months. Watch for additional information on how you can get involved.

The final bill does not include troubling provisions that were in the House Republican bills that would have:
 

• Forced employees to return to pre-pandemic levels of telework;
• Prohibited the implementation of Executive Orders related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion;
• Prohibited insurance plans in the FEHBP from covering the cost of gender-affirming care; and
• Prohibited investment options in the TSP that make investment decisions based on environmental, social, or governance criteria.