With the current continuing resolution for federal spending due to expire on December 20, Transport Topics looks at the progress of negotiations between Senate and House Democrats and Republicans. Unless Congress reaches an agreement on funding for the fiscal year that’s already under way, or at least another continuing resolution to maintain current spending levels, a partial or full government shutdown is likely.
“Shortly after returning to Washington after the Thanksgiving recess, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pointed to the need to approve bipartisan fiscal 2025 bills for operations at the Department of Transportation and other agencies. He also downplayed the effectiveness of temporary measures known as ‘continuing resolutions’ for government funding purposes.” Schumer (D-NY) has expressed a note of optimism about negotiations within the past week. “On government funding, both sides are making progress negotiating on a bill that can pass both the House and Senate with bipartisan support,” he said. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA 4) has not yet scheduled any votes on budget legislation in that chamber. (TRN inserted a link in quoted text.)