Tom Cole

Chairman, House Appropriations Committee - Completed House passage of all twelve FY2026 appropriations bills; awaiting Senate action

The House passed H.R. 7148 on February 3 by a narrow 217-214 vote, ending a brief weekend partial shutdown and funding Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD, State, and Financial Services through September 30, 2026. However, the Department of Homeland Security funding lapsed on February 13 after negotiations over immigration enforcement reforms collapsed, triggering a second partial shutdown affecting only DHS and its agencies including TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA. The impasse stems from Democratic demands for ICE and CBP reforms—including body cameras, use-of-force codes, and restrictions on roving patrols—following the January 24 fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. President Trump has signaled opposition to some Democratic proposals, particularly requirements that ICE agents remove masks during operations.

Updated Feb 17

Chair, House Appropriations Committee - Completed House passage of FY2026 appropriations; 11 of 12 bills now law

Congress has not completed all twelve annual spending bills on time since 1996. Fiscal Year 2026 marked a new low with a 43-day shutdown from October to November 2025—the longest in U.S. history—furloughing 900,000 workers and costing $15 billion weekly before resolution. Six bills became law early; the House passed the final package January 23, but Senate modifications over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement concerns triggered a brief partial shutdown starting January 31.

Updated Feb 5

Chairman, House Appropriations Committee - Led House passage of FY2026 appropriations bills

For 80 years, federal science funding enjoyed bipartisan protection. President Trump's fiscal year 2026 budget proposed ending that consensus, calling for cuts of 57% to the National Science Foundation (NSF), 47% to NASA's science programs, and 40% to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Congress said no. On January 30, 2026, Trump signed a spending bill that preserves most science agency budgets—passed by votes of 397-28 in the House and 82-15 in the Senate.

Updated Jan 30