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The Senate voted Nov. 10 to reopen the federal authorities and maintain it funded by way of January, a big step towards ending the longest shutdown in U.S. historical past.
The persevering with decision, which nonetheless requires sign-off from the Home, would fund most federal businesses at fiscal 2025 ranges and permit nonessential personnel to return to work. Crucially, if enacted by the tip of the week, it might additionally guarantee members of the army obtain their subsequent paycheck Nov. 15, with out the uncertainty that has plagued the final two paydays for troops.
Usually, CRs bar businesses from beginning new packages, awarding contracts that enhance manufacturing or decide to a multiyear procurement, and spending above the degrees set within the prior yr’s appropriations act. The Senate’s invoice, nevertheless, features a few exceptions for some packages, together with the Air Drive’s E-7 Wedgetail.
The way forward for the Wedgetail, an airborne early warning and management plane, has been a selected focus for lawmakers for a number of years now.
Within the Pentagon’s 2025 finances request, the division requested for $418 million in analysis and improvement cash to proceed a fast prototyping effort that might yield two airplanes. Congress handed a yearlong persevering with decision as a substitute of a brand new appropriations invoice based mostly on the finances request for fiscal 2025, however appropriators gave the Protection Division program-level funding tables to sign their “intent,” and the Air Drive went together with these plans for the E-7, reprogramming $188 million in R&D and $200 million in procurement for long-lead objects, in response to finances paperwork.
Shortly after that, nevertheless, the Pentagon revealed its intent to cancel the E-7 program as a part of its fiscal 2026 finances request, prompting pushback from some advocates and lawmakers. The newly handed CR to finish the shutdown contains one other salvo within the effort to save lots of the E-7.
It contains one provision directing that the Air Drive use Analysis, Growth, Check, and Analysis funds “as much as the speed for operations mandatory for the E–7 Wedgetail program, in an quantity to not exceed $199,676,000, just for the aim of continued fast prototyping actions,” and one other part directing that something left from the $200 million in E-7 procurement funding in fiscal 2025 be transferred to the RDT&E account “just for the aim of continued fast prototyping actions to take care of program schedule and transition to manufacturing for the E–7 Wedgetail program.”
Taken collectively, the provisos would make sure the Air Drive has a transparent directive to proceed the E-7 program and the funding to take action, at the same time as Congress continues works on a full-year protection appropriations invoice and a Nationwide Protection Authorization invoice.
The persevering with decision offers lawmakers a while to work on each essential items of laws. The Home handed its model of the NDAA in September, and the Senate adopted go well with in October. The 2 chambers nonetheless must craft a compromise invoice that kinds out any coverage variations. Each payments embrace main proposals to overtake the Protection Division’s acquisition processes. The Home’s Streamlining Procurement for Efficient Execution and Supply, or SPEED Act, and the Senate’s Fostering Reform and Authorities Effectivity in Protection, or FORGED Act, largely align with a brand new slate of weapons-buying modifications Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled final week.
On the appropriations aspect, the Home handed its finances in July. The Senate Appropriations Committee superior their model in July as effectively, but it surely by no means superior to a vote earlier than the complete chamber.
Alongside the persevering with decision, the Senate famous Nov. 10 to approve practically $20 billion in fiscal 2026 funding for Protection Division army development initiatives and $133 billion for the Division of Veterans Affairs.
The army development invoice would supply funding for 300 initiatives at army installations and contains $7 billion for readiness-related infrastructure initiatives. One other $2 billion would go towards constructing and upgrading rising capabilities, together with development of “next-generational hangars to help superior platforms,” in response to a Senate Appropriations Committee truth sheet.
That invoice additionally contains $1.9 billion to construct, function, and preserve army household housing and $1.3 billion for unaccompanied housing. One other $1.3 billion would fund quality-of-life initiatives like new gyms, hospitals, faculties, and eating amenities.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated Nov. 10 he hoped to convene members for a vote as quickly as Nov. 12.
Audio of this text is delivered to you by the Air & Area Forces Affiliation, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their households. Discover out extra at afa.org