Latest news with #AppropriationsCommittee
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
GOP push behind Trump agenda has Congress in an uproar
Advertisement And that was just last week. Veteran lawmakers said that the level of vitriol and dysfunction in the Capitol had reached a fever pitch. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'It is bad — really bad,' Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, said when asked to assess the mood on Capitol Hill. 'There's a level of frustration. How do we get back to doing our jobs?' Republicans have achieved hard-won legislative victories, but those have come at a cost, setting the stage for a meltdown that has, among other things, raised the prospects of a government shutdown this fall. Some GOP lawmakers are feeling squeezed, while Democrats, outraged that the White House is shredding funding agreements and doling out money however it wants, are threatening to abandon a tradition of bipartisan spending deals. Advertisement 'I want to warn my colleagues once again: If you keep going down this path, you are going to further undermine our bipartisan process,' said Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. 'The more bridges you burn, the fewer paths you leave to get things done.' Her comments came as all but two Republicans banded together to push through legislation around 1 a.m. Friday allowing the Trump administration to cancel $9 billion in previously approved spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting. Murkowski, one of the two opponents in her party, said the measure was an unacceptable breach of congressional spending power. It was not just the spending divide that was inciting tumult on Capitol Hill. In a lengthy session Thursday evening, Democrats and Republicans on the powerful House Rules Committee engaged in nasty back-and-forth over the rising clamor for Congress to vote on releasing criminal files in the investigation of Epstein, who died by suicide in a federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. That morning, Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee had stormed out of a meeting in protest after Senator Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who leads the panel, cut off debate and forced a committee vote on the disputed judicial nomination of Emil Bove. Bove, a Justice Department official and former defense attorney for Trump, is up for an influential post on a federal appeals court that encompasses Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. He has been accused by a former Justice Department colleague of declaring a willingness to defy court orders on immigration, a charge Bove has disputed. Advertisement Democrats wanted more time to examine the nomination. But Grassley forged ahead despite those demands, ramming the approval through in one of a series of Republican-only votes. Senator Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, implored him to stop, accusing the chair of 'an abuse of power.' The two had worked closely in the past on criminal justice issues. 'To me, it is a president who has such a thrall over the Republicans in the Senate that he could get them to surrender not just their power, but their constitutional obligations,' Booker said after the blowup, adding that Republicans were relinquishing their ability to provide a check on White House nominees. Grassley dismissed the complaints, claiming Democrats had executed 'a political hit job' on Bove. He said Democrats had shut down Republican members of the committee in the past, when they held the gavel in the majority. 'This is not unprecedented — either the walking away or what we did as a majority,' Grassley said. 'It has happened before, and we have to move things along.' Russell T. Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget and the chief architect of a campaign to pry spending power away from Congress, exacerbated tensions on Capitol Hill. He told reporters at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast that there needed to be less bipartisanship around federal spending — not a sentiment typically heard on Capitol Hill. He also reiterated his contention that spending levels set by Congress were an advisory ceiling, not a floor. His commentary infuriated Democrats already bristling at the $9 billion in added cuts — the first approved by Congress in decades under a special procedure that allows the president to cancel spending. Advertisement 'He wants to destroy,' Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, the minority leader, said as he called for Trump to fire Vought. 'Destroy the way that Congress works, destroy the balance of power and upend our entire Constitution. Russell Vought doesn't believe in this democracy.' Vought's comments could complicate efforts by Republicans and Democrats to work out spending levels for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Democrats said that his argument destroyed any incentive for them to strike deals, since he made clear the White House would seek to unravel them later with an assist from Senate Republicans. A test vote in the Senate on the first of the annual spending bills is scheduled for Tuesday. 'That just profoundly undermined the stability and purpose of a bipartisan appropriations process,' Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said of Vought's comments. Some lawmakers attributed the congressional edginess to lawmakers being wrung out from repeated all-night sessions to push through the Republican tax cut and domestic policy bill, and from late-night Senate debate over the additional cuts sought by the administration. 'A lot of this is people are just tired,' said Senator John Boozman, Republican of Arkansas. 'Hopefully this all blows over soon.' Some of the fights have occurred within Republican ranks. On Wednesday, an internal House Republican dispute over cryptocurrency legislation led to a usually routine process vote being held open for more than nine hours as leaders toiled to secure the necessary support. It was just the latest in a series of congressional records being set with extended floor fights and speeches. 'I am tired of making history,' Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Wednesday night. 'I just want a normal Congress.' Advertisement Given the intensity of the divisions so far and the potential momentous clashes ahead, normal seems out of the question. This article originally appeared in
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Trump unfreezes $1 billion in school funding after states sued
A spokesman for the White House Office of Management and Budget confirmed that the Republican administration's review of the program is over, states will receive the funding and the money cannot be used in violation of the president's executive orders. The money is only a fraction, however, of the more than $6 billion in education funding the Trump administration put on hold on June 30, creating financial uncertainty for many districts. Though schools only receive a relatively small amount of money from the federal government each year, the delay hindered administrators' budgeting ahead of the fall. It also jeopardized programs families rely on, including for adult learners and students whose parents are seasonal workers. Read more: Billions in federal funding for schools on hold On July 14, two dozen blue states and Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit to restore all of the paused funding. Read more: Trump paused funding for after-school programs. States are suing. Two days later, 10 Senate Republicans expressed frustration over the frozen money. In a rare break with the White House, a group that included Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins of Maine and former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky sent a letter to Russell Vought, who heads the Office of Management and Budget, saying the decision was "contrary to President Trump's goal of returning K-12 education to the states." "Withholding these funds will harm students, families, and local economies," they wrote. Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@ Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate panel backs plans for $456 billion VA budget next year
Senate appropriators on Thursday advanced plans for a $456 billion budget for Veterans Affairs programs and benefits next fiscal year, putting it generally in line with House and White House goals for future department spending. Unlike the House draft adopted last month, however, the Senate VA appropriations plan advanced out of committee with broad bipartisan support and without a bevy of controversial social issue amendments. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, praised the bill's passage as an important step forward for the federal budget process and for supporting America's veterans. 'It helps to fund the VA Health Care System, makes investments to improve mental health care, includes programs to assist in the prevention of veteran suicide, homelessness prevention programs, supports our family caregivers and expands care for our rural veterans,' she said. 'It also funds important veterans benefits, including disabilities, pensions, the GI Bill and employment training programs.' House passes $435 billion spending plan for VA in fiscal 2026 House lawmakers' budget plan for the department totaled about $453 billion, but both the House and Senate drafts call for roughly $134 billion in discretionary funding, money for new program starts and initiatives. That total is slightly less than what White House officials asked for in their budget proposal, but only by about $1 billion. Most of the debate in Thursday's Senate Committee markup focused not on the VA spending plans but instead the controversial rescissions package adopted by the chamber the night before. That measure would pull back about $9 billion in congressionally authorized spending, including money for foreign aid and public media programs. But those objections were not enough to deter most Democrats from backing the Republican-led VA budget plan. The Senate proposal includes language ensuring that veterans 'are never denied care or timely access to care as a result of the damaging or arbitrary cuts to the VA workforce,' a reference to recent workforce reductions at the department. Last week, VA officials backtracked on earlier plans to trim up to 80,000 employees from the department's payroll, instead projecting a reduction of about 30,000 individuals by the end of September. Veterans Affairs leaders have seen regular budget increases annually for more than 20 years, even amid frequent congressional and White House efforts to reduce federal spending. In fiscal 2001, the VA budget — both mandatory and discretionary — totaled just $45 billion. In 2011, it was about $125 billion. In fiscal 2023, the total topped $300 billion for the first time. The House-passed plan for fiscal 2026 would now push that total over the $400 billion level, and cost more than the combined fiscal 2025 budgets of the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps. Senate officials have not said when the budget plan could come before the full chamber for a vote, but Collins said Republican leaders have committed to acting on the issue in coming months.
Politico
3 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Schumer calls for Vought to be canned
Senate Republicans are planning to put their first government spending bills on the floor as soon as next week, setting up a key test ahead of a blockbuster fall funding fight. GOP lawmakers are discussing packaging together up to four bills, though the size of that package could shrink if including a certain bill could threaten to bog down the chamber's ability to pass it. Leaders could, for instance, decide against including the fiscal 2026 bill to fund the departments of Commerce and Justice, which has been plagued by intraparty squabbling over an amendment that would bar funds for relocating FBI headquarters. 'I hope we get a four-bill package pulled together and get to the floor next week,' said Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), a leadership ally and member of the Appropriations Committee, adding that he believes there is a 'good chance' that this will happen. Senate Majority Leader John Thune hasn't made a decision about whether or not to start moving the first government funding bill on the floor next week, but wants to get one funding package across the finish line before the chamber leaves for the August recess that is scheduled to begin in early August. Asked about next week's schedule, Thune indicated to reporters that, in addition to confirming more of President Donald Trump's nominees, Republicans are looking at either getting the ball rolling on the annual defense authorization bill or moving government funding legislation. In addition to the measure to fund Commerce and Justice, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved three other bills funding the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the legislative branch. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) has stressed wanting to focus on moving bipartisan funding bills and has a good relationship with Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the panel. Thune, on Thursday, also said that 'we plan to move approps bills that will have cooperation from the Democrats.' Collins on Thursday told reporters it was up to Thune about how to proceed but that she would like to see the first so-called minibus of spending measures on the floor before August recess. Still, Congress is expected to need a short-term funding patch to keep the government open past the end of September. And Democrats are actively worried that Senate Republicans will be pressured by the administration and the House to set aside the appropriations process and either fund the government entirely through stopgap measures and pass more party-line spending cuts like those included in the rescissions bill the Senate advanced early Thursday morning. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, acknowledged that an appropriations package could come to the floor as soon as next week, but suggested it was largely a waste of time. 'There is no approps process, it's as dead as Jimmy Hoffa,' Kennedy said. 'The Appropriations Committee has been a pointless exercise for a while, everybody knows that. Nobody wants to admit it.' Jennifer Scholtes contributed to this report.
Politico
3 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Senate GOP prepares to move first funding package
Senate Republicans are planning to put their first government spending bills on the floor as soon as next week, setting up a key test ahead of a blockbuster fall funding fight. GOP lawmakers are discussing packaging together up to four bills, though the size of that package could shrink if including a certain bill could threaten to bog down the chamber's ability to pass it. Leaders could, for instance, decide against including the fiscal 2026 bill to fund the departments of Commerce and Justice, which has been plagued by intraparty squabbling over an amendment that would bar funds for relocating FBI headquarters. 'I hope we get a four-bill package pulled together and get to the floor next week,' said Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), a leadership ally and member of the Appropriations Committee, adding that he believes there is a 'good chance' that this will happen. Senate Majority Leader John Thune hasn't made a decision about whether or not to start moving the first government funding bill on the floor next week, but wants to get one funding package across the finish line before the chamber leaves for the August recess that is scheduled to begin in early August. Asked about next week's schedule, Thune indicated to reporters that, in addition to confirming more of President Donald Trump's nominees, Republicans are looking at either getting the ball rolling on the annual defense authorization bill or moving government funding legislation. In addition to the measure to fund Commerce and Justice, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved three other bills funding the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the legislative branch. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) has stressed wanting to focus on moving bipartisan funding bills and has a good relationship with Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the panel. Thune, on Thursday, also said that 'we plan to move approps bills that will have cooperation from the Democrats.' Collins on Thursday told reporters it was up to Thune about how to proceed but that she would like to see the first so-called minibus of spending measures on the floor before August recess. Still, Congress is expected to need a short-term funding patch to keep the government open past the end of September. And Democrats are actively worried that Senate Republicans will be pressured by the administration and the House to set aside the appropriations process and either fund the government entirely through stopgap measures and pass more party-line spending cuts like those included in the rescissions bill the Senate advanced early Thursday morning. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, acknowledged that an appropriations package could come to the floor as soon as next week, but suggested it was largely a waste of time. 'There is no approps process, it's as dead as Jimmy Hoffa,' Kennedy said. 'The Appropriations Committee has been a pointless exercise for a while, everybody knows that. Nobody wants to admit it.' Jennifer Scholtes contributed to this report.
