With lawmakers are out of Washington on recess, on August 10th the Biden Administration submitted a supplemental spending request. Totaling more than $40 billion, the request includes additional assistance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, funding for FEMA to respond to various natural disasters, and spending in response to migration at the southern border.

As with previous supplemental requests, Congress ultimately has the final say on what if any of the programs are funded. Prior to leaving town for the August recess, Congress failed to adopt any of the 12 regular spending bills funding government operations for FY2024 (which begins on October 1). Talk of a short-term continuing resolution, maintaining agency spending levels more-or-less at what they are this year, has already begun. Emergency supplementals often hitch a ride on continuing resolutions and it is likely some amount of emergency spending will be included in a continuing resolution yet again.

There is also a significant chance there may be additional requests for increased spending. The request was transmitted before the full devastation of the Maui wildfire was known and there are already reports the $12 billion request for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund may fall short of need for this and other natural disasters.

The administration’s letter to Congress can be read here.

A detailed accounting of previous supplemental spending in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine (totaling more than $113 billion since March 2022) can be downloaded here.