Last night, the US Senate voted to approve an emergency funding bill including $62.5 million for the Department of Energy's Office of Science. The bill passed by a vote of 92-6 and had previously passed the House by a large majority. (See the coverage of the Kane Country Chronicle, local to Fermilab, here.) The White House has previously indicated that it would sign this funding bill.
The funding comes with language that directs the DOE to use the funds to first prevent staff reductions. The director of Fermilab, Pier Oddone, this morning wrote that he expects to announce the end of the involuntary layoff program that had been planned.
Update: In response to a comment, here is the language from the House bill (care of AIP's FYI):
"The amended bill includes an additional $62,500,000 for Science. The Department of Energy is instructed to utilize this funding to eliminate all furloughs and reductions in force which are a direct result of budgetary constraints. Workforce reductions which are a result of completed work or realignment of mission should proceed as planned. This funding is intended to maintain technical expertise and capability at the Office of Science, and may be used for National Laboratory Research and Development including research related to new neutrino initiatives. Funding for research efforts shall not be allocated until the Office of Science has fully funded all personnel requirements."
