Federal Spending Bill Contains Bitter Medicine for Black Americans
Written by Black Hot Fire Network on June 12, 2025
Ten Senate Democrats joined Republicans on Friday to pass a funding bill and narrowly avert a federal government shutdown, just hours before the deadline.
The outcome saved Black Americans — who are overrepresented among federal workers — from bearing the brunt of the furloughs, diminished services, and general chaos that likely would have ensued during a shutdown. But the funding bill that Congress adopted also contains some bitter medicine for Black America.
The bill cuts some $13 billion in nondefense spending, reducing spending for workforce training and treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues.
