Environmental lobbyists and most energy interest groups are focused on the climate and social spending package being negotiated in the Senate. But ongoing talks over a massive fiscal 2022 spending bill will also have a major impact on carrying out President Biden’s energy and environmental agenda.
Lawmakers have just a few weeks to finalize the 12 annual appropriations bills and roll them into a single, omnibus spending package before funding expires on Feb. 18. If they cannot reach an accord, agencies may be forced to operate at fiscal 2021 spending levels largely based on Trump administration priorities for the rest of fiscal 2022.