On September 26, President Joe Biden signed a Continuing Resolution (CR), “Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025”, securing government funding through December 20th after approvals in both the House and Senate. This temporary measure extends FY25 funding for all twelve annual spending bills, including key sectors like Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
While this ensures ongoing government operations, the CR maintains funding at FY24 levels, which sustains current research without accommodating new initiatives. The limited timeframe also poses challenges for negotiating FY25 spending caps, which could impact critical scientific projects.
Currently, the House has passed five of the twelve appropriations bills on party-line votes, whereas the Senate has moved eleven bills out of committee with bipartisan support. With both chambers in recess until November 12th, delays in finalizing FY25 appropriations loom, and the threat of a government shutdown still hangs over federal operations. Such disruptions could delay paychecks and hinder research activities.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Appropriations Committee, called the CR a “bipartisan compromise” and emphasized collaboration to conclude FY25 funding negotiations by year-end.
