Senate Budget Committee Advances Over $1 Trillion Funding Bill

On Thursday, the Senate Budget Committee approved a significant funding bill exceeding $1 trillion for the fiscal year 2026, ahead of the approaching deadline in late September.

A portion of this legislation allocates roughly $852 billion for defense programs, along with approximately $200 billion designated for the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and about $200 billion for education.

In total, the committee has advanced eight funding bills for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on October 1st.

Negotiators have stated that the proposed defense spending is set to be around 3% more than the amount requested by President Trump earlier this year. This funding contributes to a broader Republican initiative that included a $150 billion defense budget passed as part of a tax cut and spending plan earlier this month.

“We can’t just build golden domes, replenish ammunition, or rejuvenate American shipbuilding without boosting our overall investments in national defense. We also can’t treat settlements like a cure-all,” one committee member commented.

Another lawmaker remarked on the bill’s significant size, saying, “I supported this comprehensive bill, but we need to be cautious. This wasn’t the expanded defense budget many of us were aiming for.”

The funding includes a 3.8% salary increase for military personnel and a 10% rise for junior enlisted members. It also designates $171 billion for weapons systems procurement, more than $140 billion for research and development, and around $303 billion for operational maintenance, training, and weapons.

Moreover, the bill highlights significant increases in various areas, such as air and missile defense, drones, ammunition, and shipbuilding, which includes $1.9 billion for Virginia-class submarines.

Additionally, the legislation sets aside $500 million for Israel’s cooperative defense programs and $800 million for Ukraine’s security assistance.

In the annual Labor Funding Bill, negotiators reached a consensus that includes funding for the National Institutes of Health targeted at biomedical research, with billions earmarked for Alzheimer’s research as well as initiatives from the National Cancer Institute.

Further provisions in this bill allocate about $12 billion for Head Start programs, $8.8 billion for childcare and development grants, more than $3 billion for state opioid response grants, and approximately $5.5 billion dedicated to mental health research and treatment.

“This bill reflects our bipartisan efforts by incorporating priorities from both parties, including American biomedical research, childcare, education, and measures to tackle the opioid crisis,” a senator noted.

Before the meeting, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who played a key role in shaping the bill, expressed support for fully funding the suicide hotline. “We’re fully backing the 988 Suicide Hotline with an additional $15 million, rejecting attempts to hinder key mental health and substance use programs,” she explained.

Baldwin also emphasized the need for the Department of Education to maintain adequate staffing levels to achieve its mission, implying that outsourcing should not occur in essential areas.

However, she mentioned that the budget bill does not allocate funds for public broadcasting, following a Republican decision to cut over $1 billion in previously approved funding.

Many Republicans argue that these cuts are justified, pointing to perceived political biases in outlets like NPR and PBS. “Unfortunately, this bill does not provide support for public broadcasting, a disappointing turn of events that will negatively affect over 1,500 local stations nationwide,” Baldwin remarked, urging Republicans to collaborate to restore funding.

She added, “I believe we can resolve this issue before it leads to serious repercussions for public radio and television, particularly in rural communities, where stations like Wojb and Northwoods in Wisconsin could be severely affected.”

Some Republicans voiced concerns over the cuts as well. “Despite my reservations about our current state of affairs, I voted to move the Labor HHS bill forward,” stated Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). She acknowledged efforts by her colleague to secure an agreement with the administration aimed at protecting tribal funding but expressed ongoing uncertainties.

“We’re collaborating with the administration and public media in Alaska to safeguard our stations,” she mentioned. “However, as someone from a state with a significant tribal population and numerous public radio stations, I have ongoing concerns about this funding.”

Both the House and Senate appear to lag in resolving annual funding efforts, overshadowed by Trump’s tax priorities that have been the focus of Washington’s discussions in recent months. As the senators prepare for their August recess, there’s a strong push to pass this initial round of funding as soon as possible.

The House has only managed to pass two funding bills thus far, and the Senate is yet to finalize its own.

At the conclusion of Thursday’s meeting, Collins indicated that the committee intends to proceed with the process, navigating through the legislative hurdles ahead.