#federal-budget

#federal-budget

The House Committee on Appropriations will markup the fiscal year 2026 spending plan for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with discretionary funds totaling $67.8 billion.

"Science is what made this nation great," said Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) on X. "Every breakthrough, and our economic growth has come from science and technology breakthroughs. Those aren't going to happen much in this Trump administration. It's a tragedy."

Amtrak's request for $850 million for the Northeast Corridor grants is a significant decrease compared to the previous year, highlighting budget constraints and the urgent need for infrastructure improvements.

The unfathomable federal budget process allows legislators to operate in wild, unexpected ways, resulting in severe consequences for the most vulnerable populations through cuts to essential services.

The committee's rare late-night meeting, scheduled for 1 a.m., comes as Republican leadership races to pass what Mr. Trump refers to as the 'big, beautiful bill' before their self-imposed Memorial Day deadline.

The primary reason for Moody's downgrade is the rapid rise in federal government debt and potentially higher yields to refinance it.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee's 2025 budget reconciliation bill allocates $500 million for IT modernization and AI efforts, crucial as states grapple with regulations.

On its website, the committee boldly asserts its power, quoting from the constitution that No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of Appropriations made by law.

The National Endowment for the Arts has notified arts organizations that their 2025 grant awards are being terminated, sparking a wave of urgent appeals for donations.

President Trump’s budget proposal represents a significant contraction in government spending, aiming to cut $163 billion and impacting various crucial programs, particularly for the poor.

Since day one, the Trump Administration has targeted waste, fraud, and abuse in Federal spending through executive action, DOGE review, and other efforts by departments and agencies.

The IMLS, with its annual budget of approximately $300 million, represents a minuscule fraction of federal spending, yet its impact on communities nationwide is immeasurable.

"The executive order mandating the dismantling of federal entities, including IMLS, poses significant challenges for museums and libraries, impacting cultural support nationwide."

The spending bill, drafted exclusively by Republicans in Congress, does not include many of the usual line-item details directing agencies precisely where to put their money. This gives the Trump administration leeway in directing where the money goes.

DOGE eliminates jobs and programs under a guise of efficiency, obscuring austerity and income redistribution as Republicans disassociate from unpopular spending cuts.