One-Week Stopgap Spending Measure Funds Government Through December 18 As Budget Negotiations Continue
December 11, 2020
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At a Glance
- A stopgap spending measure passed by Congress will fund the U.S. government through December 18, 2020, as FY 2021 federal budget negotiations continue. Once the measure is signed by President Trump, it will take effect.
- The stopgap bill also extends E-Verify, the EB-5 Regional Center program and other expiring programs through December 18, 2020.
The issue
A temporary spending measure passed by the U.S. Congress will fund the U.S. government – including immigration operations – through December 18, 2020 while Congress continues to debate the FY 2021 federal budget. The bill now goes to President Trump, who is expected to sign the measure.
One-week extension of expiring immigration programs
The bill extends four expiring immigration programs through December 18, including E-Verify, the EB-5 Regional Center Program, the Conrad 30 Program for foreign medical graduates working in underserved areas, and the Special Immigrant Non-Minister Religious Worker permanent residence program.
These programs were initially set to expire on September 30, 2020. On that date, Congress passed a stopgap spending measure extending the programs to December 11, 2020 while FY2021 budget negotiations continued. With negotiations still ongoing, Congress has now passed another short-term measure.
What the short-term measure means for employers
Passage of a temporary spending bill means that there should be no interruption of federal operations for now. If Congress has not passed FY 2021 appropriations legislation or a further temporary measure by December 18, 2020, a government shutdown would occur. However, it is not unusual for Congress to continue passing successive short-term spending measures as budget negotiations continue.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
