In the wee morning of Feb. 9, the president signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (H.R. 1892) into law, putting an end to the overnight government shutdown. The surprise budget deal between Republicans and Democrats will keep the federal government funded through March 23 — this should give lawmakers just enough time to produce an omnibus spending bill to fund the remainder of fiscal year 2018.
The two-year bipartisan budget deal increases the statutory caps on discretionary spending for defense and domestic programs:
- Defense caps: from $549 billion to $629 billion for FY 2018; from $562 billion to $647 billion for FY 2019.
- Domestic caps: from $516 billion to $579 billion for FY 2018; from $529 billion to $597 billion for FY 2019.
In addition, the budget deal includes:
- One-year extension of tax provisions that expired in 2016.
- Suspension of the debt ceiling through March 1, 2019.
- Extension of CHIP for an additional 4 years, bringing the total to 10 years.
- Disaster assistance totaling $89 billion.
- Increased funding for community health centers.
- Two-year delay to Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital payments.
- Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board.