The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate yesterday passed a short-term funding bill that will keep the federal government operating—including key agencies such as the FAA—through December 20 while work continues on a longer-term budget. The continuing resolution, H.R.9747, first was approved by the House by a 341-to-82 vote Wednesday afternoon and then the Senate followed within an hour—at near-record pace—by a 78-to-18 vote.

Passage occurred before both chambers adjourned until November 12, after the elections, averting a government-wide shutdown that would have otherwise set in at the end of the fiscal year on October 1. Pushing the vote until December 20 sets up a debate on funding priorities for fiscal year (FY) 2025 during a lame-duck session when one or both chambers may face the prospect of flipping.

Aerospace Industries Association president and CEO Eric Fanning praised the approval of the stop-gap funding bill, noting that it is keeping critical functions open. However, he also called the bill “just a temporary solution to a recurring issue. Our industry relies on clear and strong demand signals from the government, and continuing resolutions only muddy them. We encourage Congress to get back to passing regular, full-year appropriations that will empower the aerospace and defense industry, driving innovation, empowering economic growth, and securing the country.”

At stake for the FAA in FY 2025 is up to a $22 billion budget with funding to hire 2,000 controllers and expedite aging air traffic control systems replacement. The House bill would increase the agency’s budget by $1.576 billion to $21.657 billion, while the Senate bill would provide a $1.931 billion boost, closer to $22 billion.

Those bills were cleared by the respective House and Senate Appropriations Committees in July but had not yet moved to the floor in either chamber.