News - House Moves Toward Fiscal Reform with New Funding Strategy

In a significant legislative push, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., has steered the House toward completing its fiscal year 2026 appropriations work through a revived funding method previously considered outdated. This strategic move aims to unwind spending levels set by the Biden administration, reverting to those from the Trump era. The House is set to vote on a final series of appropriations bills covering several federal agencies. Johnson heralded the return to a 'committee-led, member-driven approach,' emphasizing fiscal discipline and advancing an 'America First' agenda. "Replacing Biden-era spending with Trump-era benchmarks reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility," Johnson asserted, as the legislative body prepares to move away from dependency on continuing resolutions and omnibus bills, practices that have characterized recent funding cycles. The call for 'Regular Order' This legislative endeavor seeks to restore 'regular order,' a method of passing individual spending bills instead of bundling them into larger, less scrutinized packages. Once approved by the House, the series of six bills, encompassing both previously passed financial-related measures and new agency funding, will advance to the Senate, which must act before the looming January 30 deadline. House members like Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., see this change as a step toward substantive engagement in the budgeting process, albeit recognizing the process's limitations. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, regards the adjustment as a cautious yet essential shift towards systematic fiscal management, signaling a market-friendly stance against unchecked discretionary spending. Homeland Security Under Scrutiny The contentious Homeland Security funding component will face separate deliberation due to Democratic concerns, notably after a recent ICE-related incident. Rep. Pete Aguilar, speaking for the Democrats, criticized the bill for perceived inadequacies in oversight over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. The DHS spokesperson countered these claims, highlighting the law enforcement objectives of ICE against violent offenders. As discussion unfolds, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., notes the strategic advantage of allowing separate votes on contested elements like Homeland Security. With the Republican majority in the chamber, Speaker Johnson remains optimistic about securing passage of the complete appropriations package.