Budget and Appropriations Update

Thursday, July 16, 2026 | 1PM ET

Congress will soon take off for August break with a hefty government funding to-do list looming when they return with just a few weeks before the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline. House Republicans have advanced all of their appropriations bills through committee, though the Senate is stalled amid partisan tensions ahead of the midterm elections. The Trump administration is also pressuring Republicans to use the fast-track budget reconciliation process to sidestep Democrats and enact a major boost in defense funding.

Join POLITICO’s Congress, defense and health policy reports for a breakdown of where we are and what’s next.