Defense
DOD’s budget request finally drops, combining a real decrease with a one-time boost
Officials are relying heavily on Congress to pass the reconciliation bill.
Management
Withholding agency funds at the end of the year under consideration, White House says
OMB Director Russ Vought tells lawmakers the administration has "numerous options" to achieve savings.
News
How shrinking the EPA could make wildfire smoke even more dangerous
Proposed jobs and grants cuts by the Trump administration could have detrimental impacts in air quality monitoring at the federal, state and local government levels, stakeholders say.
Management
Funding for further EHR deployments ‘vitally important,’ VA secretary says
VA Secretary Doug Collins said failing to modernize the agency’s electronic health record system “hurts our community care process because our doctors cannot communicate with the community [or] our doctors internally.”
Oversight
Lawmakers spar over DOGE as Republicans look to lock in cuts
Republicans again blocked an attempt to subpoena billionaire and former DOGE leader Elon Musk.
News
U.S. senators call for security funding boost after Minnesota assassination
Following shootings in Minnesota, senators called for more funding for the U.S. Capitol Police to provide member security.
Management
Federal judge deems Trump administration’s termination of NIH grants illegal
In a ruling issued Monday, the judge called the government’s directives “arbitrary and capricious” and ordered funding for some of the NIH grants, including many profiled by ProPublica in recent months, to be restored.
Management
House GOP clears measure to claw back billions from foreign assistance and public media programs
The Senate will take up this initial effort to codify some Department of Government Efficiency cuts after it finishes work on the budget reconciliation package.
Defense
Lawmakers rip into defense secretary over flat Pentagon budget
The Pentagon is counting on one-time funds from a reconciliation bill to fund investments in shipbuilding and missile defense.
Management
Vought calls for more OMB staff after spearheading governmentwide cuts
Architect of Trump’s government overhaul says he does not want to "traumatize" feds and some agencies have staff "doing incredible work."
Workforce
CISA projected to lose a third of its workforce under Trump’s 2026 budget
The White House’s latest spending proposal projects nearly 1,000 jobs will be slashed at the nation’s lead civilian cyber agency. Related cyber and intel programs across government also face funding rollbacks.
Management
Trump wants Congress to slash $9.4B in spending now, defund NPR and PBS
The rescissions request allows the White House budget office to legally freeze spending on some accounts for 45 days.
Workforce
Trump is planning to slash 107,000 federal jobs next year. See where
New details in the president's budget detail some of the proposed workforce reductions, though the final cuts will likely be steeper.
Management
White House budget request includes $45 million in additional DOGE funding
The request would support an estimated 150 full time employees, 80% of whom would be paid out of agency reimbursements, rather than DOGE-specific funds.
Pay & Benefits
Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget would strip trans federal workers of insurance coverage
If enacted, the provision would bar the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program from covering federal employees and their family members’ gender affirming care treatments.
Oversight
White House says it will cooperate with top watchdog only when it does not ‘unduly burden’ Trump’s agenda
The Trump administration is elevating its feud with the Government Accountability Office, which recently found the administration is violating federal spending laws.
Management
Top Democrats in Congress decry White House 'lack of transparency' in spending plans
The lack of detailed information about how exactly the Trump administration is spending funding approved by Congress has come up during several Appropriations Committee hearings during the last month.
Oversight
GAO: Transportation Department can’t withhold electric vehicle infrastructure program funds
The Government Accountability Office determined that the DOT and the Federal Highway Administration ran afoul of the Impoundment Control Act when they suspended appropriations for the Biden-era grant program.
Tech
Reconciliation text includes $500 million for modernization and AI at Commerce
The text also includes a prohibition on state-level enforcement of AI laws and regulations.
Tech