Official announcements from the District of Columbia and federal government

Congress Unveils 1,547-Page DOGE Act to Avert Shutdown Amid GOP Criticism

Dec 18, 2024, 12:20 AM

Congressional leaders have released a 1,547-page government funding bill, known as the Disaster Offset and Government Efficiency Act (DOGE Act), aimed at preventing a government shutdown before the Friday deadline. The bill extends funding until March 14 and includes $100 billion in disaster relief, $10 billion in assistance for farmers, a one-year extension of the farm bill, and $50 million for inauguration security. It allocates $1 billion for the reconstruction of Baltimore's collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and transfers control of the RFK Stadium site to the District of Columbia. Some Republicans are expressing frustration over the handling of the bill by House Speaker Mike Johnson, criticizing the late release and size of the bill, calling it a 'total dumpster fire'. Despite the criticism, the bill is expected to move forward as leaders work to avoid a government shutdown.