The House Republicans have pushed forward a bill that aims to reduce funding for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) by about 50% in the fiscal year 2026, a decision that is likely to spark protests from Democrats. They argue that such a move runs counter to Republican claims of wanting to eliminate government waste.
On Thursday, the GOP-led House Budget Committee endorsed the bill along party lines, with Democrats voicing strong opposition.
This legislation, part of the Annual Legislative Branch Funding Act from 2012, covers funding for various entities including the Library of Congress, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Capitol Police, and others. Overall, the bill proposes $5 billion less than the current level for the fiscal year 2026, which is roughly a 5% decrease, not accounting for Senate-specific items. When those are included, discretionary funding would actually increase to $6.7 billion.
Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), who leads the subcommittee responsible for the proposal, explained, “We’ve had to make some tough decisions, but as a legislative body, it’s our duty to lead by example and adjust funding responsibly.”
Notably, the bill suggests a significant reduction in GAO funding—by nearly 49%, resulting in an allocation of $415 million for fiscal year 2026. Democrats have criticized provisions that would bar government agencies from suing each other over failures to comply with the 1974 Water Storage Control Act.
“The GAO is involved in roughly 40 ongoing investigations into whether the White House has unlawfully withheld funds or adequately supported its own controversial actions,” a Democratic lawmaker from New York remarked during the markup session of the Legislative Sector Budget Committee.
“This will cost 2,200 jobs. Additionally, Congress will hinder hundreds of billions in savings that the GAO helps facilitate each year,” they added.
This funding cut arrives as GAO officials declared they’ve been probing the Trump administration’s attempts to freeze federal funds.
Meanwhile, scrutiny from Trump officials regarding the GAO has intensified. Recently, White House budget director Russell criticized the agency during a Senate hearing, alleging it was misrepresenting program reviews.
“We’re conducting program evaluations as we look at various funding options. Each set of funding has its unique criteria, and we will keep assessing these programs,” he stated.
Democrats have claimed the Trump administration’s actions reflect a harsh and illegal freeze on funding, obstructing hundreds of millions already allocated by Congress.
During Thursday’s committee markup, Democrats also took issue with a proposal to lower the Library of Congress’s budget by 10% for fiscal year 2026.
Conversely, the bill also proposes pay increases and added costs for Capitol architects, the CBO, and the U.S. Capitol Police, in addition to enhancing workplace rights for Congressional staff.
With this bill’s advancement, the House Budget Committee has nearly completed half of its annual funding proposal for 2026. Earlier this week, the House also passed its initial 2026 Accounting Expenditure Bill, further aligning with party goals for year-round veteran funding.
