If it wasn't for the Continuing Resolution Bill of 2025, America would be a lot worse off than it is currently. Most of us have heard of the stock market losing five trillion dollars, the Signal chat scandal, and the rest of the country's seemingly never ending chaos making the headlines. Not everyone was aware, though, that the U.S. was a step away (and even that is a generous estimate) from a total recession, and one decision saved citizens from what would have been a complete devastation for their lives.

On November 30th, 2024, fiscal year (FY) 2024 came to an end. Due to Congress's failure to pass appropriations bills to fund the government, it in practice basically extended 2024's FY spending levels from October 1st 2024 to March 14th, 2025 under a continuing resolution. Thus, FY 2025 funding is practically just a lengthy continuation of 2024's.

To be fair, this is not a new pattern. Congress has repeatedly extended deadlines to pass appropriations bills. Since 2014, its members have not been able to put them together on time once.

So, on March 15th, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025.

While majorly similar to the likes of the prior FY spending, there have been a few changes.

Spending on areas such as defense and immigration enforcement has increased. The Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) has had its funding increased to $7.59 billion, an over $500 million boost. $3.9 billion dollars has been allocated from the Unemployment Trust Fund to state grants in order to distribute unemployment insurance laws. Project based rental assistance and tenant-based rental assistance funding has increased by $480 million and $3.6 billion, respectively. Advance funding for programs such as Medicaid payments to states, foster care, child support enforcement/family support programs has been implemented by the billions.

This is only a fraction of what the bill covered. While some view these extensions as a positive, others point to various aspects of the bill and lament.

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The Various Concerns

As explained, funding for defense spending has increased. Due to this, funding for non defense programs has been cut by $13 billion. Examples of federal non defense programs include in education, transportation, income security, veterans' health care, and more.

Project based rental assistance and tenant-based rental assistance funding has increased, but rent subsidies for low-income or working class Americans have been decreased by over $700 million.

The bill cuts funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $280 million which drastically reduces the ability to continue researching diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, mental health, and maternal mortality. Many studies have been abruptly stopped.

By $20 million, full funding of the Emergency Food Program (TEFAP) has not been granted despite grocery prices increasing. This could leave approximately 25,000 eligible seniors unable to participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, while a $4 billion check is provided to the Federal Aviation Administration. This is according to ranking House member Rosa DeLauro,

"enabling Elon Musk to direct contracts to Starlink and SpaceX (companies owned by Musk) at a time when unvetted and unchecked SpaceX employees have burrowed in the FAA (the same Federal agency that regulates SpaceX),with no requirement for public transparency, fair competition, or Congressional approval".

The Resolution cuts $185 million dollars or 7% of the funding for Nuclear Nonproliferation programs. It slashes $2 billion in local transportation safety projects, and pages upon pages longer would this article have to be to analyze the remainder of this lengthy act.

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A multitude of changes always occur when a new fiscal year emerges, but this is amplified when a new presidential administration takes office with an ideology and agenda that is opposite to the prior one. This year, both have occurred, and thus the news cycle cannot help but remind us.

This is to be expected. Plus, it is crucial to stay informed in what is happening in the country and world you reside in. You do not want to be surprised if the next Great Depression hits, then realize you could have planned ahead all along.

Besides, your voice is important. Perhaps you had a family member sickened with cancer, and a breakthrough achieved upon years of research is what saved them. You comprehend the issue in a way others are unable to.

But, how can you use your voice if you're unaware it is needed?

You cannot. That is the point.