Science Funding Secured Amidst Looming Government Shutdown Over Border Wall Dispute

Science Agencies Funded for Fiscal Year 2019

In a move that secured funding for numerous scientific endeavors, President Donald Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.R. 6157) into law on September 28, 2018. This comprehensive spending package provided substantial increases for key science agencies, ensuring their operations for the full fiscal year.

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) received a $2 billion increase, bringing its total funding to $39.1 billion.
• The National Science Foundation (NSF) saw a 4% increase, reaching $8.1 billion.
• NASA was allocated $21.5 billion, marking a $1.1 billion increase.
• The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science secured $6.6 billion, a 5.9% increase.

This funding ensures that many federal research programs will continue uninterrupted, even as other parts of the government face potential closure.

Government Shutdown Looms Over Border Wall Funding

Despite the earlier passage of the science funding package, a partial government shutdown is set to begin at midnight on Friday, December 21, 2018, if Congress and the White House fail to reach an agreement on a spending bill. The impasse centers on President Trump's demand for $5 billion in federal funds for the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Senate Democrats have largely opposed this funding, leading to a stalemate in negotiations. The shutdown would affect nine federal departments, including the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the Departments of Justice, State, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Transportation.

Minneapolis ICE Controversy Adds to Immigration Tensions

The contentious debate over border security funding is unfolding against a backdrop of heightened national tensions surrounding immigration policy. The Minneapolis ICE controversy, which saw protests and an occupation of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Minneapolis starting in June 2018, has significantly contributed to this climate.

Activists in Minneapolis and across the nation have protested various immigration policies, including family separations and deportations, bringing increased scrutiny to the operations of ICE and the broader federal approach to immigration enforcement. These ongoing controversies have fueled the political divide over border security, making a resolution to the current funding dispute particularly challenging.

Outlook for the Weekend

As the deadline approaches, negotiations between congressional leaders and the White House continue, but a resolution appears unlikely. If no agreement is reached, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will either be furloughed or required to work without pay, just days before the Christmas holiday. The duration of the potential shutdown remains uncertain, with implications for various government services and the national economy.