On September 30, the U.S. Senate approved a Continuing Resolution (CR) providing government funding through December 11, 2020. The final vote was 84 - 10. President Trump signed the CR into law in the wee hours of Thursday, October 1.

In a press release, FMA National President Craig Carter stated, “A CR is preferable to a government shutdown. But preferable in this case does not amount to desirable, except when put against the catastrophe of a government shutdown. Regrettably, this is the exact situation we find ourselves in yet again.”

Carter expressed disappointment Congress had to rely on a short-term CR, passed mere hours before the end of the fiscal year, and noted the effort in the House of Representatives earlier in the year, passing ten of twelve spending bills before the August recess. 

“Continuing resolutions kneecap the ability of the government and the military to plan for the fiscal year ahead. Key positions cannot be filled with new hires. Critical projects cannot begin because there is no guarantee they will be funded by the eventual budget, and a lack of resources to lay the groundwork even if they are funded. Contractors and small businesses suffer unnecessarily. The total cost to taxpayers and the government as a result of the uncertainty from any CR is reliably in the billions of dollars,” Carter said. 

FMA urges Congress and the administration to come together and fully fund Fiscal Year 2021 as soon as possible.