The Joe Biden (D) administration said Monday it would veto the House’s version of the Department of Energy’s 2025 budget, even though the President supports the bill’s added funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
“The bill provides critical resources reaffirming congressional commitment to a strong national defense and NNSA’s enduring missions,” the statement by the Office of Management and Budget said in a veto statement.
The $25.5 billion the bill proposes for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is about 2% more than requested and roughly 5.5% more than the 2024 budget. It also includes $8.3 billion for cleanup of shuttered nuclear-weapon sites managed by DOE’s Office of Environmental Management, some $300 million less than in 2024 but about $100 million for than requested. The bill could reach the House floor by Tuesday.
The statement on H.R. 8997, the 2025 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, was released a day after the President announced on the website X that he would end his reelection campaign.
Meanwhile, the House Rules Committee on Wednesday published a rule for floor debate of H.R. 8997, teeing up a vote on the DOE budget bill, and several others, this week.
The Rules Committee made 65 amendments in order for floor debate, including:
- Two amendments from Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), a notable antinuclear voice on the House Armed Services Committee who this month announced he was diagnosed with cancer. One amendment would prohibit funding for the W87-1 air-launched cruise-missile warhead. Another would prohibit funding upgrades for plutonium pit production at the Savannah River Site.
- One from Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), whose district includes the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. Jackson’s amendment would provide $5 million more in fiscal year 2025 for Pantex’s High Explosive Synthesis, Formulation, and Production facility “to ensure the project remains on schedule.”
Debate could begin as soon as Tuesday, which was scheduled to be a full day of legislative business, according to the House majority leader’s calendar. Congress on Wednesday was to receive a visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.