It’s Over. Trump Signs FY2019 Appropriations Bill

President Trump signed the FY2019 Consolidated Appropriations bill today, ending the impasse over border security funding that caused a record 35-day partial government shutdown.  The bill funds NASA, NOAA, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) and many other government departments and agencies through the end of FY2019.

It brings to an end a drama over border security funding that caused a 35-day shutdown over the Christmas-New Year’s holidays even as it begins another fight over presidential power because of Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to get more money for his border wall, but that is beyond the scope of this space policy website.

For civil space agencies, the bill is good news, not only that their FY2019 funding is now in place, but NASA, NOAA’s satellite programs and AST all got more money than the Trump Administration requested.

• NASA received $21.500 billion, $1.608 billion more than requested
• NOAA’s satellite programs are funded at $1.455 billion, $55 million more than the request
• AST got $24.949 million, more than $3 million above the request

The bill, H J. Res. 31, provides funding through the end of FY2019 on September 30, 2019.  Trump has not yet submitted his budget request for FY2020, which begins on October 1, 2019. Due on February 4, it was delayed by the shutdown and is now expected on March 11 or 12.