Federal Appropriations Update from AVMA

March 27, 2024 — 

On March 23, Congress passed legislation that will fund the federal government for the remainder of FY24.

Thanks to the AVMA's advocacy there were no cuts to the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program ($10 million) or the Veterinary Services Grant Program ($4 million). The Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank, Zoonotic Diseases Management, and the National Veterinary Stockpile did receive minor cuts in funding; however, the outcome for veterinary medicine could have been much worse, given the current budget environment and the much larger cuts made to other programs.

With the government finalizing a budget for FY24, the AVMA is already working with lawmakers and their staffs to secure the proper funding for essential veterinary programs in FY25, which starts October 1, 2024.

[Source: AVMA Advocate 26 March 2024]