January 2018

Final funding numbers for the 2018 fiscal year (FY) are still up in the air, as Congress passed a three-week continuing resolution (CR) following the expiration of the previous CR on January 19 and a three-day government shutdown.

Senate Democrats had sought to tie an extension of government funding to the consideration of legislation that would provide a fix for immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. President Donald Trump rescinded the DACA regulations last September. Although Dreamers are able to renew their status under DACA through March 5, after that date those protected under DACA will be at risk of deportation. 

The agreement to extend funding through February 8 is contingent on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calling up legislation—whether a bipartisan compromise bill or the DREAM Act—for a vote.

At the same time, talks are still underway to raise budget caps for FY 2018. AERA signed onto a letter from NDD United calling for a bipartisan deal to raise the caps that maintains parity in increases for defense and non-defense discretionary (NDD) spending. The Coalition for Education Funding, of which AERA is a member, recently wrote a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders asking to eliminate the NDD caps and to increase the allocation available to the Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education subcommittee.

Both the House and Senate appropriations proposals are higher than the current caps. The latest CR, the fourth for FY 2018, does result in a 0.68 percent cut to all programs, as the caps for FY 2018 are slightly below the caps for FY 2017.