Topline
Following months of negotiations to fund the government, President Joe Biden on Saturday signed a $1.2 trillion spending bill that will provide funding through the rest of the fiscal year, while also increasing defense spending and setting spending guidelines for several government agencies.
Key Facts
The package, approved by the Senate early Saturday morning, establishes spending guidelines for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services and State through September, the end of the fiscal year.
Defense spending was increased to $824 billion, an increase of nearly $27 billion (3%) from the previous fiscal year, while basic military pay was increased by 5.2%, the largest boost in over 20 years.
An additional $200 million for a new FBI headquarters in Maryland is included in the package, in addition to a $1 billion increase in funding for Child Care and Head Start programs.
The package does not include new border wall funding, though it includes funding for 2,000 new Border Patrol agents and 8,000 additional detention beds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Also included in the package is a one-year ban on funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, $300 million in security assistance for Ukraine and $300 million in military funding for Taiwan.
Chief Critic
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a motion Friday to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., from his position over the legislation moments before the House was set to vote. Other hard-right legislators have criticized several provisions, including funding for the Department of Homeland Security, in addition to some that were excluded, which would have blocked access to reproductive healthcare services, gender-affirming care and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Surprising Fact
The spending bill includes a provision that prohibits State Department facilities from displaying flags other than the American flag and other eligible flags, like the POW/MIA flag, flags of Indian tribal governments and flags of official U.S. agencies, among others. Johnson celebrated the provision as a conservative win because the ban prevents U.S. embassies from flying the LGBTQ+ pride flag, Bloomberg reported.
Key Background
The spending package concludes a monthslong effort by Congress to approve a budget, after the fiscal year 2023 budget was extended four separate times to keep the government open, narrowly averting government shutdowns. Congress approved extensions—known as “continuing resolutions”—in September, November, January and February amid an effort to agree on a full-year deal. Efforts to approve a new deal were largely stalled by bipartisan disputes over border security and Homeland Security funding.
Further Reading
House Passes $1.2 Trillion Budget With Bipartisan Support—Likely Averting Government Shutdown After Months Of Negotiations (Forbes)
Marjorie Taylor Greene Files Motion To Oust Speaker Mike Johnson Over Funding Bill (Forbes)
