Apr 01 Congress Finalizes Continuing Resolution

(April 1, 2025)

To avoid a government shut-down, Congress passed a year-long continuing resolution (CR) to keep programs funded and the government open and operating. This passage did not come easily with both sides of the aisle strategizing on how to get their priorities included in a final bill.

At the end of the day, while most programs maintained their current funding levels – including education programs – the CR did not contain crucial policy pieces that, if enacted, would have put some guardrails on the Trump Administration’s work to dismantle and defund key education and other child related programs.

The CR did not contain language that would have explicitly told the Executive Branch that they would have to spend all funds appropriated by Congress. Without this language, the current administration may have the ability to distribute and withhold funds based on their own discretion. The ability to withhold or delay federal payments is a cause of concern for schools who rely on federal funds. These funds, which are distributed on July 1, may be delayed and/or reduced and school districts should be bracing for reductions in federal dollars.

While we remain extremely concerned about the future of appropriations, there was one bright spot in the CR: Congress passed the CR with a commitment to provide WIC with full funding to meet projected participation and food costs, which means a $7.6 billion in funding for WIC, an increase of more than $500 million from Fiscal Year 2025.

While CRs are nothing new for Congress, the involvement of the Executive Branch in withholding appropriated funds certainly is unprecedented. Due to this, there are many legal challenges pending. It will be important to watch how the courts rule in the next few months to see how congressionally appropriated funds are impacted.

Jamie Baxter, Allies for Children Executive Director