Finishing Out 2024: FY 25 Continuing Resolution Almost a Certainty
This week’s Analysis and Commentary is entitled: “Republican Control in 2025 Will Prioritize Large Cuts in Federal Spending.”
Finishing Out 2024: FY 25 Continuing Resolution Almost a Certainty. The current FY 25 CR expires on December 20, just two weeks from now. Though lip service has been paid to the idea of finishing appropriations bills this year, it was always more likely another Continuing Resolution would be needed.
Even a “get out of town before Christmas” CR could prove troublesome. To avoid a government shutdown that no one wants: R’s and D’s in both the House and Senate will need to agree on bill text and an end date for the new CR.
Current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has reported both sides are making progress in negotiating a bill that can pass both the House and Senate with bipartisan support. Despite a broad range of urgent funding requests, he emphasized the need to keep divisive and unnecessary provisions out of any government funding extension.
It does not appear any decisions have been made about an end date. Suggestions being floated largely involve dates in February or March.
Looking Ahead to 2025: Republican Control Will Prioritize Large Cuts in Federal Spending. As discussed further in this week’s Analysis and Commentary, budget cuts will be a top item on the Republican agenda in Congress and the Executive Branch. Notably, there are many approaches to cutting federal spending and it is clear that the new Congress and President-elect Trump plan to use a number of them.
The Alliance's position is that any cuts should be applied agency by agency based on the essential and urgent nature of each agency’s mission. Across-the-board cuts deny FDA and its stakeholders the opportunity to discuss the importance of resources for FDA’s ability to fulfill its mission.
Slim Republican House Majority in the 119th Congress; House and Senate Calendars for 2025. Republicans are expected to have a majority in the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress - 220 Republicans to 215 Democrats. This is one less Republican and one more Democrat than the current Congress.
This forces Speaker Johnson to insist upon more party discipline than was typical of House Republican efforts during the current Congress. In the short term, the situation will be even more dire for him. Assuming confirmation of several House members to the President-elect’s cabinet, there will be at least three Republican seats vacant until at least April, when special elections will be held. During that time, the majority will be reduced to 217 R’s vs. 215 D’s, meaning not a single Republican vote can be spared on key legislative efforts. The impact of this on budget-cutting initiatives is unclear.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA-1) has released the House 2025 Calendar. The one-page version can be found here. The month-by-month version can be found here.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) has released the Senate calendar, which can be found here. It is clear January and February will be busy months.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune Lays Out Plan for Reconciliation. Incoming Senate Republican Leader, John Thune (R-SD) said this week he plans to move GOP’s priorities within the first 30 days by using the budget reconciliation process. This process will avoid the 60-vote filibuster threshold and allow the passage of certain legislation with only a simple majority. It is expected this first package will address border, defense, and energy.
Senate committees will have more time to work on a second measure that would tackle other items, including taxes, at a later time. Reconciliation bills can only be used to change spending or revenue. Legislative provisions outside of spending or revenue could be in violation of the Senate “Byrd Rule” and are subject to objection by Senators, with further determinations made by the Senate Parliamentarian.
Dr. Marty Makary Named to Lead the Food and Drug Administration. President-elect Trump has named Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon, to lead the Food and Drug Administration. According to the Washington Post, Makary has a long-standing relationship with former Trump officials, having worked with them on health policy issues during Trump’s first administration, including advising on efforts to increase health-care price transparency. He also forged a bond with HHS Secretary-designate Kennedy, supporting his Make America Healthy Again agenda to address chronic disease and childhood illness.
Members to Vote on Slate of 2025 Alliance Board Members. If you are an Alliance member, you will receive a slate of board members up for election. If you do not receive a ballot today (December 6), please contact Steven Grossman or Ben Dash.
Alliance 2025 Dues Invoices Have Been Sent to Every Member. If you are an Alliance member but have not received an invoice, please contact Steven.