House Republicans Advance Spending Bill for 2026
On Wednesday, House Republicans moved forward with their initial spending bill for the fiscal year 2026, advocating for over $450 billion aimed at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), military construction, and related programs.
The legislation passed mostly along party lines, although two Democrats, Jared Golden from Maine and Marie Grusenkamp Perez from Washington, crossed the aisle to support it.
House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma, lauded the bill, pointing out his focus on enhancing healthcare and benefits for veterans, which he attributes to investments made during President Trump’s administration.
“It strengthens the quality of life for the military and its loved ones through housing and childcare resources,” he stated. “And we reaffirm our commitment to peace through strength by providing basic infrastructure and preparation efforts.”
Despite this praise, Democrats are firmly opposing the financial package.
Representative Rosa Delauro, a Democrat from Connecticut and a key member of the House Appropriations Committee, described the bill as one that would “redirect billions of taxpayer dollars to private hospitals and clinics,” which she argues could result in longer wait times and decreased quality of care for veterans.
“This is a step towards privatizing the Bureau of Veterans Affairs because if sending VA patients to private facilities makes access difficult, they will say, ‘Well, we can’t trust the VAs.’ And they’ll shift toward privatization, which is exactly where this administration seems to be headed,” she noted.
The proposed measure allocates about $152 billion in discretionary funding for 2026, marking a 3% increase compared to current levels. Overall, it proposes around $453 billion for the VA, with $300 billion classified as mandatory spending.
While Republicans emphasize the rise in funding for the VA, military construction, and family housing, Democrats criticize them for neglecting to include funding for seniors. Some argue the bill falls almost $1 billion short of what is necessary for effective military construction.
Senior Republican budget officials recognize that the yearly spending process is ongoing, and further adjustments might be necessary based on future guidance from the Trump administration regarding financial priorities beyond 2026.
As of now, House Republicans have reviewed about a third of the 2026 spending bill, aiming to finalize the passage of all proposals before the August recess.
