Senators advance on funding for defense and healthcare
The Senate Appropriations Committee has taken a significant step forward this week, advancing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Defense and Labor-Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) appropriations bills with a strong bipartisan vote of 26-3.
The Labor-HHS bill, which provides about $197 billion in discretionary funding, focuses on health, education, workforce programs, biomedical research, substance use prevention, and child care. On the other hand, the Defense bill, totaling approximately $852 billion, aims to support troop pay raises, quality of life improvements, and strengthen U.S. military deterrence against global threats such as China, while ensuring support for allies worldwide from Ukraine to the Pacific and Africa.
These bills notably diverge from President Trump's FY 2026 budget proposals, as they reject many of Trump's proposed cuts. The Senate bills oppose dismantling or deeply cutting key agencies like the Department of Education and Health and Human Services, maintaining or increasing investments in critical programs supporting families, health care, research, and education. Senators have emphasized their bipartisan commitment to funding essentials that Trump’s budget sought to reduce or defund, critiquing the administration for ignoring Congressional laws and pursuing transparency issues.
The Defense bill also represents a rebuke of Trump's preference for continuing resolutions, advocating for full appropriations to ensure national security readiness.
Key Differences Between Senate and Trump's Budget Proposals
| Aspect | Senate Appropriations Bills (FY 2026) | President Trump's Budget (FY 2026) | |--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | Labor-HHS Funding | $197 billion, increased investment in biomedical research, opioid prevention, child care, education programs14 | Proposed significant cuts and dismantling of programs in education and HHS3 | | Defense Funding | Supports troop pay raises, quality of life, deters China, strengthens allies globally3 | Proposed reductions and preference for continuing resolutions, criticized for impacting readiness3 | | Partisan Support | Passed 26-3 bipartisan votes; rejection of deep cuts and calls for accountability and transparency3 | President's administration criticized for ignoring laws and transparency3 |
Earmarks and Funding for Specific Countries
The Defense bill boosts military pay and weapons procurement, including funding for Ukraine and Israel. In a surprising turn, hardline conservative members like Marjorie Taylor Greene have almost $10 million in earmarks, despite previously swearing off earmarks. The earmarking process is being seen as a way to send money back home by some conservative members, in line with the America First agenda.
Some hard-line conservative members are suggesting that a full-year continuing resolution with earmarks added as a sweetener could be the best realistic option for funding the government past Sept. 30.
The Labor-HHS bill invests heavily in biomedical research, child care, and opioid treatment. It does not include funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
- The Senate Appropriations Committee's Labor-HHS bill focuses on increased investment in areas such as biomedical research, opioid prevention, child care, and education programs, as part of the $197 billion in funding.
- The Senate Appropriations Committee's Defense bill includes funding for military pay raises, quality of life improvements, and weapons procurement, with allocation for countries like Ukraine and Israel.
- The Senate's FY 2026 budget proposals dispute President Trump's proposed cuts to key agencies like the Department of Education and Health and Human Services, instead advocating for increased investments in critical programs supporting families, health care, research, and education.
- The Defense bill's earmarking process has seen hardline conservative members receive almost $10 million, despite initially swearing off earmarks, a move seen as a way to support their districts in line with the America First agenda.