Appropriations Advent: Unwrapping the FY26 Funding Process
Washington, D.C. – ’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the House, Appropriations Advent was completed – not a window left out. For twelve steady days, we toiled with great care, unwrapping the FY26 process, our progress laid bare. From hearings and markups to bills moving through, each step of appropriations was opened to review. With all twelve full-year bills reported out of the committee on cue, Article I moved us forward – good governance in view. Fiscal responsibility, accountability, and oversight guides each day, serving the American people every step of the way. So, with our holiday countdown finished and the tree shining bright – Merry Christmas from House Appropriations, and to all a good night!
Jingle bills, jingle bills, funding all the way – twelve full-year appropriations bills keep government running day to day!
The appropriations process is built on twelve full-year bills, each one setting funding levels, guiding federal programs, and ensuring accountability for taxpayer dollars. Moving all twelve through committee is a major milestone – and this year, Appropriators hit every note with 12 out of 12 bills reported out. We crafted bills that strengthen national security, support key programs, and uphold fiscal responsibility. Nothing jingles more merrily than well-written legislation!
We wish you a merry markup, the FY26 season’s work in view – where Appropriators debate each bill and sharpen language too.
Just like your aunt’s figgy pudding, sometimes recipes need a little refining. A markup is where Appropriators take the draft bill and review its ingredients through bipartisan debate, amendment offerings, and line-by-line oversight to ensure everything comes out just right. We completed over 91 hours of markups – a 160% increase from FY25 – bringing good tidings of assessment. With markups wrapped, the bills are ready to be advanced to the House floor.
Rockin’ around the discretionary tree, Appropriations fund operations Americans see.
The Appropriations Committee oversees discretionary spending – the portion of the federal budget Congress decides each year. About one-third of federal spending is discretionary, funded through twelve annual appropriations bills that keep the government running, from troop pay and veteran care to air traffic control, national parks, and more. The remaining two-thirds is mandatory spending, set by law and funded automatically for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Reconciliation can change mandatory programs and taxes, but it does not sustain day-to-day government operations. While we’re proud of securing the OBBA, that work is separate from our purview. Appropriators remain focused on completing the full FY26 appropriations slate to fully reflect President Trump’s priorities and policies.
Hark! The Appropriations Cardinals sing – glory to the legislation they bring!
A “Cardinal” is the chair of an Appropriations Subcommittee, responsible for crafting one of our twelve annual funding bills. Their work and expertise shepherd critical legislation forward, lead hearings, examine agency budgets, and shape priorities across their jurisdiction. From national security and agriculture to infrastructure and energy, each of these senior appropriators steers a vast portfolio that impacts the American people. Joyful are the leaders who guide each bill and help our nation’s priorities rise.
O come, all ye Conferees, joyful and aligning – make one bill through careful reconciling!
The Carol of the Conferees marks the stage where the House and Senate take their respective versions and compose one final appropriations measure. In a conference committee, conferees meet to resolve differences and craft a unified text – setting final funding levels, reconciling priorities, and shaping the language that will become law. Like a choir blending separate melodies into one harmonious carol, conferees refine provisions and build consensus. This year also marked the first time the House has named Appropriations Conferees since FY19.
Frosty the Clause-Man stood proud as each FY26 bill takes its place – for Appropriators shape the budget with accountability and grace!
Frosty the Clause-Man is proof that Article I is a real gift. Forget the magical hat – Congress’s power of the purse is what brings him to life. Under Article I, Section 9, Clause 7, no money can be drawn from the Treasury without a law passed by Congress, making appropriators the stewards of federal funding. Each appropriations bill is a constitutional exercise in setting priorities, maintaining oversight, and directing resources where they are needed most. When all twelve bills are complete, Frosty stands as a reminder that the Constitution places Congress at the center of federal budgeting.
You’re a mean one, Mr. Government Shutdown Grinch!
Bah humbug – government shutdowns are costly, disruptive, and harmful to families, workers, and the economy. The longest shutdown in U.S. history froze paychecks, snarled airports, interrupted nutrition assistance, and left vital services stuck in limbo. It's why Congressional Republicans not only consistently voted to keep the government open and working, but never wavered in their position on advancing a solution to end the shutdown responsibly. There might be some coal in congressional stockings – but it won’t be in ours!
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum – here’s your subcommittee sum!
A 302(b) allocation is the quiet beat that sets the tempo for all twelve appropriations bills. After Congress sets the overall discretionary spending level, the Appropriations Committee divides that topline into twelve targeted allocations that determine what each subcommittee can fund. These numbers guide the scope of each bill, discipline federal spending, and help ensure resources are aligned with national priorities. In FY26, our allocations are built around restoring American strength, bolstering safety and security, and steering federal agencies back toward their core statutory missions. The 302(b) Boy sets the rhythm as the appropriations year marches on.
Congress is making a CPF list and checking it twice.
Just like Santa, Congress is making a Community Project Funding (CPF) list and checking it twice. This member-directed process allows lawmakers to apply their local expertise to support specific, community-driven projects in their districts – from infrastructure and public safety to water systems and community facilities. To uphold fiscal discipline, CPF projects are capped at no more than 1 percent of total discretionary spending and are subject to strict transparency and accountability requirements, including public disclosure, certification of no financial interest, and committee review. Together, these safeguards ensure taxpayer dollars are responsibly directed to real district priorities. Recent enactment of the Military Construction–VA and Agriculture–FDA appropriations bills demonstrate how this process delivers investments for communities across the country.
Rudolph the regular order reindeer has a very guiding FY26 glow!
Rudolph is helping light the path back to regular order, reinforcing a step-by-step, deliberative approach to the appropriations process. Unlike rushed, pork-laden omnibus packages, our committee has returned to a member-driven process that respects Article I and subjects bills to full review and debate. The result is a clearer, more accountable process, where lawmakers scrutinize priorities, debate funding levels, and shape legislation through a robust legislative process. A red-nosed reminder that process matters!
Come on, it’s lovely weather for a hearing together with you.
A large part of the appropriations process begins long before a single funding level is drafted. Oversight and budget evaluation are core responsibilities of the committee, and hearings are where agencies formally present their budget requests, explain shifts in priorities, and justify investments. Members question Cabinet officials, program heads, and subject-matter experts to evaluate performance, identify duplication, and reveal unmet needs. These sessions also create the public record that upholds accountability and transparency. Details gathered in hearings help shape appropriations bills and ensure decisions are grounded in evidence, accountability, and statutory mission. FY26 boasted nearly 70 proceedings, and we are dedicated to sleighing the process with clarity, detail, and oversight.
’Tis the season to be jolly, three bills signed with care, not folly.
Appropriators have delivered FY26 wins for Americans, with the Military Construction–VA, Legislative Branch, and Agriculture–FDA bills signed into law by President Trump. Taken together, these measures deliver full funding for veteran healthcare and benefits, support U.S. farmers and agriculture, safeguard our medical supply chains, and support strong constituent operations. As we reflect on this yuletide branch of progress, we remain committed to the boughs ahead and the continued work of completing the full FY26 slate. Fa-la-la-la-law – three down with more to bestow!
As Appropriations Advent draws to a close, we reflect with gratitude and cheer – on the work accomplished on behalf of the American people and the progress entrusted to us year to year.
The House Appropriations Committee sends you warm wishes as the season shines bright – Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
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