GOP Unveils Stopgap Ahead of Shutdown Deadline
Washington Update
Appropriations
On Saturday, March 8, House Republicans released a seven-month continuing resolution (CR) that would increase spending by $6 billion for deportations, veterans’ health care, and the military, while cutting $13 billion from non-defense programs. The measure, crafted by Speaker Mike Johnson along with the White House, aligns with President Trump’s priorities and escalates the confrontation with Democrats ahead of the Friday government shutdown deadline. Trump has urged Republicans to support the bill, and House Democratic leaders have already opposed it, criticizing the GOP’s shift from bipartisan negotiations to a patch that would give Trump more control over federal spending.
The bill includes a $6 billion increase in defense spending and fulfills a request for additional ICE funding for deportations. It also freezes over $20 billion in special IRS funding. Meanwhile the proposed cuts impact bipartisan projects, including $40 million for programs helping children and families, $890 million for health care facilities, $116 million in Small Business Administration funding, and $107 million in cuts to workforce development programs, with funding for emergency preparedness and clean water projects also on the chopping block. The proposal also calls for $202,344,000 cuts to the Department of Education, which appears to be directed at local programs. The package omits a provision to reverse Medicare doctor pay cuts, disappointing physician groups; excludes additional disaster aid for recent wildfires and hurricanes; and does not address the upcoming debt ceiling deadline.
House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT) criticized the CR, expressing concerns that it provides unchecked flexibility for billionaires and President Trump to reallocate funds, potentially harming American families and businesses. DeLauro argued that the bill would negatively impact veterans, seniors, working people, and small businesses by increasing housing costs, reducing health care quality at the VA, and cutting essential programs like Social Security and Army Corps of Engineers construction projects. She also highlighted the potential for increased wait times and backlogs at the Social Security Administration due to staffing cuts, and raised concerns about SpaceX's involvement in government contracts, which she believes could bypass transparency and congressional oversight.
Republican leaders aim to pass the bill with only GOP votes by Tuesday and force Senate Democrats to either back the plan or face a government shutdown.
Click here to access the full text of the bill.
Click here to see the Republican press release and section-by-section summary of the bill.
Click here to see the Democratic fact sheet on the CR.
Department of Labor Nominees
On Thursday, March 6, the Senate voted 66-30 to end debate on Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination for Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL), paving the way for a final confirmation vote. Chavez-DeRemer, a former GOP representative, advanced from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee with bipartisan support and has backing from several labor unions. Although she previously co-sponsored the PRO Act, she distanced herself from it during her confirmation hearing to ease concerns from business-friendly Republicans.
Earlier that day, the Senate HELP Committee voted 12-11 along party lines to advance Keith Sonderling’s nomination for Deputy Secretary of Labor. A floor vote could take place as soon as this week. Sonderling previously served as acting administrator of the Wage and Hour Division during Trump’s first term. If confirmed, Chavez-DeRemer and Sonderling are expected to roll back Biden-era regulations and reduce the DOL workforce under a White House directive.Amid these leadership changes, DOL is reinstating all probationary employees laid off last month following legal challenges and public backlash against the Trump administration’s government reduction efforts. AFGE Local 12 informed members that terminated workers would return to their jobs on Monday, March 10, with official notifications forthcoming. While the exact number of affected employees remains unclear, DOL’s cuts have been less severe than those at other agencies. Probationary employees — typically in their first year or two— lack full civil-service protections. However, the reinstatement may be temporary, as the Trump administration is preparing for additional mass layoffs, known as "reductions in force." This development coincides with the General Services Administration’s (GSA’s) plan to sell DOL headquarters and other federal properties, raising further uncertainty about the department’s long-term workforce stability.The Senate is set to meet today at 3:00 pm (ET) to hold a floor vote on Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination to lead the Department of Labor.
Department of Education Secretary
After her Senate confirmation on Monday, March 3, Linda McMahon’s first act as Education Secretary was to email staff, emphasizing the need to eliminate bureaucratic bloat quickly and responsibly. She highlighted three core priorities, including the belief that postsecondary education should lead to well-paying careers aligned with workforce needs. Critics argue that the $881 million cut to the Department’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) will undermine efforts to evaluate education programs and their alignment with labor market demands. Education researchers from the Brookings Institution emphasized that understanding and solving problems requires reliable data, which these cuts threaten. While acknowledging that some IES cuts were poorly executed, American Enterprise Institute’s (AEI’s) Rick Hess argued in Education Next that much of the eliminated research was of questionable value and suggested that the majority of the cuts were justified.
Click here to read the Department of Education press release on the confirmation.
House Education and Workforce Committee Hearing
On Wednesday, March 5, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held its first hearing of the 119th Congress to examine the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) legislation. Witnesses for the hearing, “Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for America’s Workforce,” included President of the Board of Directors for National Youth Employment Coalition Robert Sainz; President and Chief Executive Officer of Strada Education Foundation Dr. Stephen Moret; Senior Vice President of Workforce and Careers at Ivy Tech Community College Molly Dodge; and Director of the Office of Education and Workforce Transformation for the Office of the Governor of Alabama Nicholas J. Moore.
In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (UT) emphasized the importance of reforming WIOA to address the gap between job openings and unemployed individuals. Witnesses and lawmakers discussed reducing bureaucratic complexity and improving efficiency within the workforce system. Witness Nicholas Moore highlighted the need to integrate policy, technology, and process to streamline services, particularly for veterans and other jobseekers and advocated for a more efficient system where individuals could access comprehensive support from a single point of contact. Dr. Moret emphasized the need for better data on employment outcomes to help workforce boards make informed decisions, pointing out that current performance data is often incomplete, making it difficult for jobseekers to select effective programs. Witnesses agreed that improving access to high-quality information helps learners make better decisions about their career pathways. The hearing also addressed the value of short-term certificates in providing entry-level job opportunities.
Click here to access the recording of the hearing.
Protecting the Right to Organize Act
On Wednesday, March 5, a bipartisan group of House and Senate Members reintroduced the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (HR 20), which aims to expand protections for workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively for wages, benefits, and workplace safety. The House bill was introduced by House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA), House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) while the the Senate was introduced by Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (VT).Supporters of the bill argue it addresses income inequality, declining union membership, and would strengthen federal labor protections by authorizing penalties for employers who violate workers' rights, facilitating initial collective bargaining agreements, and clarifying the classification of employees versus independent contractors. It also includes measures to protect workers from retaliation, allows unions to collect "fair share" fees, and provides workers with the right to pursue private legal action for labor violations. Additionally, it seeks to ensure fair union elections by limiting employer influence, prohibiting mandatory anti-union meetings, and requiring greater employer transparency.Advocates for the bill assert that it is necessary to protect workers' ability to organize and address perceived imbalances in the labor market. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler described current labor laws as inadequate, arguing they allow corporations to undermine union efforts. Supporters urge Congress to advance the legislation, while opponents express concerns about the potential impact on businesses and the broader economy.
Click here for the bill text of the bill.
Click here for a fact sheet on the bill.
Click here for a section-by-section summary of the bill.
Pell Grant
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Pell Grant program is projected to face a $2.7 billion shortfall for the next fiscal year. While funds won’t need to be addressed until planning for FY26, some policy experts urge early action. Michele Zampini, senior director of college affordability at The Institute for College Access & Success, suggested that addressing the shortfall through the reconciliation process could prevent delays and ensure funding stability.
Click here to access the CBO projections document.
Unemployment Rate
On Friday, March 7, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the February jobs report, which showed nonfarm payrolls increased by 151,000 – better than the downwardly revised 125,000 in January but less than the 170,000 consensus forecast. The unemployment rate edged higher to 4.1%. Though the federal workforce reductions won’t be felt fully until coming months, the efforts are beginning to show. A total of 10,000 federal jobs were lost over the month but those losses were countered by hiring in healthcare, financial activities, transportation and warehousing, and social assistance. Healthcare led the way in job creation, adding 52,000 jobs.
Click here to access the full report.
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