Another short-term spending bill has advanced in Congress. The House on March 15 passed a measure to fund federal agencies through April 8, with $6 billion in spending cuts. The vote was 271-158. The cuts include all $894 million slated for the General Services Administration construction account. Senate approval of the measure is needed by March 18, when the current stopgap expires.
Among the House bill’s $6 billion in cuts is $2.6 billion in earmarks, including the GSA construction money. The measure also trims GSA’s repairs and alterations account by $130 million but still leaves it with $284 million. Congress turned to a three-week stopgap after the Senate on March 9 rejected two measures to fund agencies through Sept. 30.