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Balanced Reporting. Trusted Insights.
Thursday, April 03, 2025
Congress faces a Friday deadline to avert a government shutdown, with President Donald Trump backing a House GOP plan to pass a continuing resolution that would keep departments and agencies funded through Sept. 30, the end of fiscal 2025.
A partial government shutdown loomed closer Thursday night after the House soundly defeated a scaled-down stopgap spending bill that included a debt-limit increase President-elect Donald Trump demanded, plus economic assistance for farmers.
Top staff from the House and Senate Ag committees continue their private talks this week on a possible new farm bill, even as lawmakers appear headed to agreement on a stopgap spending bill before heading home to campaign.
The Senate Appropriations Committee looks to advance the rest of its fiscal 2025 spending bills, including measures that fund federal water resource agencies and the Labor Department, ahead of the long August recess.
The House will debate funding for USDA and FDA as lawmakers return from their break for the Republican National Convention, while the House Agriculture Committee this week will hold a hearing on farmers’ current financial situation.
Spending for USDA and FDA would be increased by 3% in fiscal 2025 under a bill advanced by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, drawing a sharp contrast with the House GOP version of the measure.
Lawmakers return to Washington to try to focus on fiscal 2025 spending bills even as Democrats face an ongoing debate about whether President Joe Biden should end his re-election bid.
The Supreme Court is due to release a ruling this week that could potentially restrict the power of federal regulatory agencies, and President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump square off in their only scheduled debate.
House Republicans are proposing more modest cuts to spending at USDA than GOP appropriators tried last year, but they also are attempting to block USDA's new regulations for the meat and poultry industry and slow down new food traceability requirements.
