Congress Averts Shutdown, Approves Transportation Spending for FY 2025

What happened: The Senate March 14 approved a House-passed spending package by a vote of 54-46 that fully funds core highway, public transportation and airport construction programs at previously authorized Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 levels through Sept. 30.

While most federal programs will continue at FY 2024 spending levels, the measure adds $1.2 billion in core highway spending in order to meet levels authorized in the 2021 infrastructure law. However, it does not contain $1.8 billion in congressionally directed spending projects, also known as earmarks, making the overall total slightly lower than the final FY 2024 spending law.

ARTBA March 5 led a letter from 46 national associations and labor unions asking Congress to include the increased FY 2025 core funding levels in any final spending bill, which was followed up with a March 11 ARTBA letter, urging the House and Senate to support the bill.

Why it matters: The approved spending package, authored by Republicans and supported by President Donald Trump, demonstrates bipartisan support for increased investment levels in transportation improvements, notably by members of the GOP that did not support the 2021 infrastructure law.

What’s next: The bill now heads to President Trump for enactment, and Congress can turn its attention to drafting and passing FY 2026 appropriations bills.