(The Center Square) – Ten days before the government funding deadline, congressional appropriators released the last four fiscal year 2026 spending bills for the U.S. House to vote on.
The 771-page funding package includes a total of $1.2 trillion for the departments of Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Transportation and Housing and Urban Development; and Homeland Security.
“At a time when many believed completing the FY26 process was out of reach, we’ve shown that challenges are opportunities,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said in a Tuesday statement. “It’s time to get it across the finish line.”
The bulk of the cost lies in the Defense appropriations bill, which allocates $839 billion for military personnel, research, equipment, and other activities.
It also directs $13 billion toward President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” project, establishes a network of commercial factories able to rapidly transition to military equipment production, and gives military servicemembers a 3.8% pay raise.
The Transportation-HUD bill includes $102 billion, with $25 billion of that going to transportation and border security. When combined with money from separate highway and airport trust funds, the Federal Aviation Administration will receive $22 billion this fiscal year, while the Federal Highway Administration will get $64 billion.
The remaining $77 billion is authorized for HUD, supporting rental assistance programs, public housing funds, homelessness assistance, and mortgage insurance, among other things.
One of the thornier appropriations bills, the $221 billion Labor-HHS-Education bill, includes funding for bipartisan funding priorities like early childhood education assistance, Pell Grants, rural health and job training programs, and biomedical research.
And while Republicans score some wins, like $500 million for charter schools, fiscal hawks are sure to oppose the more than $5 billion meant for migrant and refugee assistance programs. While the amount is lower than was appropriated for the previous two years, it is still three times higher than funding levels during Trump’s first term.
Democrats, on the other hand, have issues with the $64 billion Homeland Security bill, which many believe does not do enough to restrict the authority of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers.
The most recent debates over whether ICE has overstepped its authority ignited after an ICE agent fatally shot a Minnesota woman who was allegedly trying to run over law enforcement officers with her vehicle.
“I will not vote to fund DHS & ICE while they are putting Americans in danger, recklessly violating laws and decency, and refusing to be held accountable for or allow any oversight of their actions,” Sen. Cory Book, D-N.J., said. “Congress must provide checks and balances to an Administration out of control.”
But with a partial government looming if the bills aren’t passed, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., encouraged Democrats to “review the bill and determine what is best for their constituents and communities.”
“I understand that many of my Democratic colleagues may be dissatisfied with any bill that funds ICE. I share their frustration with the out-of-control agency,” DeLauro added.
Only three of the twelve appropriations bills are currently law, but three more await Trump’s signature and the Senate will send two others to his desk next week.
House leadership are hoping to advance the remaining four out of the chamber by Friday so that the Senate can pass all six once it returns next week.
