$200 Billion in Funding Approved for Government Departments Amid NOAA Controversies and Palestinian Aid Disputes

On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee moved forward with its second set of government funding bills for fiscal 2025. These bills covering over $200 billion include budgets for key departments like Justice, Commerce, Transportation, Interior, State, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Although the bills had bipartisan support, there were heated debates about NOAA’s new boat speed rules and funding for Palestinian aid, according to the report of The Hill.

READ ALSO: Teaching Triumph: Education Secretary Pledges 5.5% Pay Rise for Deserving Teachers, Ending Years of Fairness Row

(photo: Human Rights Watch)

Congress Faces Funding Crisis as Partisan Rifts Threaten to Block Government Funding Bill

The largest bill, for the Department of Justice, proposed adding $5.2 billion to its budget making it over $70 billion in total. This bill also increases funding for science research, climate studies, and building weather satellites. The Senate discussions included disagreements on amendments for law enforcement funding and money for the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees showing the sharp partisan divides on these issues.

There is a big difference between the Senate and House approaches to funding. House Republicans want to cut EPA funding significantly and add controversial policy measures. With the fiscal year 2025 deadline approaching in September both chambers face funding shortfalls and the need for a temporary measure to prevent a government shutdown. There are also concerns about possible shortfalls in veterans’ benefits highlighting the urgent need for Congress to resolve these issues before the new fiscal year starts.

READ ALSO: Louisa’s Legacy: A New Era of Medical Debt-Free