This week Congress kicked off the fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations process with the first markups in the House. Each year, Congress aims to pass 12 separate appropriations bills to fund government programs. The debt ceiling package negotiated by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) and President Biden limits discretionary spending in the appropriations bills to a total of $1.59 trillion ($886 billion defense, $704 billion non-defense) in FY 2024. This is a reduction of $12 billion compared to FY 2023. However, conservatives in the House had Speaker McCarthy commit to passing the appropriations bills at FY 2022 spending levels instead of at the spending levels outlined in the debt ceiling package. This new proposal would result in $119 billion less than the spending caps outlined in the debt ceiling package and $131 billion less than the current fiscal year. The Senate is expected to pass appropriations bills at the debt ceiling levels. If the House and Senate appropriations bills are not able to be reconciled and passed by the end of the year, there will be an across-the-board 1 percent reduction in spending levels for all departments and agencies. 
 
Impact on General Dentistry: The AGD will monitor the appropriations bills to see how spending levels and authorizations affect federal oral health programs.