The debate over government funding in Washington charges on as we approach December 20, 2024, when current funding expires. Earlier this week it appeared that Congress had coalesced around a deal to fund the government until mid-March through a continuing resolution (CR), with disaster aid, an extension of the farm bill, and a few policy riders all attached to the CR.
The original CR contained a few wins for construction:
- Promoting Workforce Development – The bill included A Stronger Workforce for America Act, which makes major updates to programs last authorized a decade ago, which will help address current employer workforce needs.
- Delaying Implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act – Delaying, and ultimately repealing, this nuisance legislation is a long-standing priority for AGC. The CTA forces small contractors with fewer than 20 employees and $5 million in revenue to submit the sensitive information of anyone exercising “substantial control” over a legal entity—including names, addresses, and scanned copies of identification documents such as drivers licenses or passports—to a federal database at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Failing to comply could result in civil and criminal penalties. For more information on the Corporate Transparency Act, see this story.
Unfortunately, after conservative backlash and tweets from DOGE, the deal appears to be off. There are discussions about short-term funding deals to get through Christmas, a “clean” CR with no policy riders, and other options floated. Because we are so close to the funding deadline, there are legitimate concerns they won’t be able to reach a deal and there will be a government shutdown.
During the 118th Congress we have reported many times about potential government shutdowns. The final days of this Congress appear to be no different. In the event of a government shutdown, please see this updated AGC resource. As always, AGC will keep you updated on the latest.