House Republicans Approve Financial Bill for Fiscal Year 2026
On Wednesday, House Republicans moved forward with the first financial bill for fiscal year 2026, allocating over $450 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), military construction, and various programs.
The vote, which leaned heavily along party lines, saw only two Democrats—Jared Golden from Maine and Marie Grusenkamp Perez from Washington—joining the Republicans to support the measure.
House Budget Speaker Tom Cole from Oklahoma emphasized that the funding is fully dedicated to “veteran healthcare and benefits, strengthening investments under President Trump.” He stated, “It strengthens the quality of life for the military and its loved ones through housing and childcare resources,” adding, “And we reaffirm our commitment to peace through strength by providing basic infrastructure and preparation efforts.”
Despite this, Democrats have voiced strong opposition to the proposed funding plan.
Rep. Rosa Delauro, the leading Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, expressed concerns that the bill would “transfer billions of taxpayer dollars to private hospitals and clinics,” predicting it would lead to issues like poor communication, longer wait times, diminished care quality for veterans, and increased costs for taxpayers. She commented, “This is a step towards privatizing the Bureau of Veterans Affairs…if sending veterans to these facilities makes it hard for them to get what they need, people will say, ‘We can’t trust VAs,’ and that’s where this administration seems to be headed.”
The bill proposes about $152 billion in discretionary funding for the upcoming fiscal year, which is a 3% rise from current levels. The total allocation for the VA is nearly $453 billion, with $300 billion earmarked for mandatory programs.
While Republicans spotlight the funding for the VA, military construction, and family housing, they have faced criticism from Democrats for not including significant funds for toxic exposure issues in this proposal, exacerbating tensions between the parties.
A senior Republican budget officer acknowledged that further modifications may occur as they await additional insights from the Trump administration regarding its funding outlook for after fiscal year 2026.
Currently, the House GOP has approved about a third of the funding for 2026.
