FY26 Appropriations Update

Senate leaders continue to face challenges in lifting the Republican holds on a five-bill minibus, which includes appropriations for Commerce-Justice-State, Defense, Interior, Labor-Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS), and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development. As highlighted in a previous Hill Update, some Senators are demanding the removal of the Labor-HHS bill and the elimination of all earmarks from the package.

In the House, Republican appropriators are advocating for a more streamlined minibus that excludes both the Defense and Labor-HHS appropriations bills, which are the largest funding measures. Consequently, neither chamber is expected to vote on these appropriations bills this week. This sets up a busy few weeks for Congress when it reconvenes after the recess, with the deadline for current government funding expiring on January 30.