U.S. Congress passes second FY 2024 minibus to complete annual appropriations process

Key Takeaways

On March 23, the U.S. Congress passed its second “minibus” appropriations package (H.R. 2882) containing the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Defense, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, Legislative Branch, and State and Foreign Operations spending bills.

The enactment of this legislation comes two weeks after passage of the other six spending bills and several hours after the March 22 funding deadline set for the included appropriations. With all 12 spending bills now enacted, the federal government is funded through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024, ending September 31, 2024.

What's in the Second Minibus

H.R. 2882 includes approximately $1.2 trillion in discretionary spending for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, which includes funding for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Labor and Education. 

Key highlights for counties include: 

• Over $10 billion dollars for critical block grants that support essential human services, including the Child Care and Development Block Grant, the Social Services Block Grant and the Community Services Block Grant 
• Funding for Election Security Grants to improve the administration of federal elections, enhance election technology and make security improvements as authorized by Help America Vote Act (HAVA) 
• Approximately $3.2 billion for U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to state and local governments, including the State Homeland Security Grant Program and $324 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program to assist local fire departments 
• Decreased funding for FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Shelter in Services Program and increased funds to hire 22,000 additional Border Patrol agents and 150 additional CBP Officers
• $5.7 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs that helps counties tackle and overcome challenges facing job seekers and employers in their communities

NACo's full legislative analysis of final FY 2024 spending can be found here.

What's Next?

FY 2025 begins on October 1, 2024, and lawmakers have already begun consideration of the corresponding appropriations bills. NACo will continue to monitor and advocate for county priorities in FY 2025 appropriations, and keep members apprised of future developments.