Speaker Johnson Predicts Continuing Resolution through March
As a special Thanksgiving bonus, we are publishing two Analysis and Commentary columns this week:
“FDA 101: What Every American Should Know (and Be Grateful For)”
An update of “Steven’s Traditional Thanksgiving Message to the FDA Stakeholder Community.”
Speaker Johnson Predicts Continuing Resolution through March. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA-4) this past Sunday on Fox News predicted the House will pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) from December 20 through March. “I think it would be ultimately a good move because the country would benefit from it because then you’d have Republican control and we’d have more say in what those spending bills are.” The Speaker also said he has been in discussion with President-elect Trump regarding how to proceed, but no decisions have been made.
House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK-4) is still pushing for completion of funding bills this year. “We’ve got to break this cycle, and this kicking it into next year is not good. It’s not fair to the new president, it’s not fair to the new Members. They’re going to have to vote on this. I’m not okay with any of this, I would like to finish the bills.”
Further discussion of the CR’s timing can be found here.
Supplemental Appropriations Request Sent to Congress. The White House this week sent a $100 billion supplemental funding request to Congress, focused on funding needed to respond to hurricanes Helene and Milton, and other natural disasters. It will take some weeks to develop a final bill.
It is believed emergency funding will be needed before the next Congress–so the supplemental bill and either an omnibus appropriations bill or the CR are likely to become intertwined.
Republicans Retain a Small House Majority. Republicans are likely to control the House in the next Congress, albeit with a margin so thin leadership will need near-unanimity to pass partisan legislation. So far, Republicans have secured 219 seats and the Democrats 213, with three races still to be called.
The dynamics are further complicated by President-elect Trump’s decision to name several House members to Cabinet positions. While each comes from safe Republican districts, House leadership will have to work around vacancies for up to several months while special elections are held to fill each seat.
Also of note, the House Republican Caucus will be no less divided in the incoming Congress, but there is likely to be much less tolerance for the tumult that marked House Republican leadership politics over the last two years.
Multiple Options for Congress to Cut Spending. With continuing large budget deficits and Republicans controlling Congress and the Presidency, there will be intensified efforts to cut federal spending.
There are several paths for Republicans to make cuts to federal programs and they could be effective singularly or in combination. For example:
By using a CR to slow down the rate of spending;
Through budget reconciliation to force budget savings targets that will require program reductions;
Via rescissions proposed in a Trump budget;
By following the outside-of-government Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s recommendations for spending cuts. House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY-1) announced the establishment of a new subcommittee next year Chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14) to oversee DOGE recommendations; and/or
By unilateral executive branch impoundments and refusals to spend appropriated funds (the constitutionality of these approaches would likely face judicial scrutiny).
In terms of supporting FDA funding, it is important that any cuts 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.
The Alliance intends to be even more active in articulating how FDA provides essential government services that are not assignable to the private sector or other existing agencies.
This is a good time for your organization to join the Alliance for a Stronger FDA. The more members we have, the more our voices will be heard. For more information, please contact Alliance Executive Director Steven Grossman at sgrossman@strengthenfda.org.
Friday Update Returns December 6. The Senate and House are in recess for Thanksgiving until December 2 and 3 respectively. As a result, we will not publish a Friday Update next week (November 29).
We wish all Alliance members and their families (and all of our other readers) a happy and grateful Thanksgiving. We will be back on December 6 with our usual updates and commentary. For our thoughts on this year’s Thanksgiving, see this week’s two Analysis and Commentary columns (here and here).
Alliance staff will be available to assist Alliance members throughout this period.
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 (sgrossman@strengthenfda.org).