House Committee Approves Bills with Funding Cuts

Lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill this week to resume work on fiscal 2027 funding bills.

Before the recess, the House Appropriations Committee approved seven of the 12 fiscal year 2027 appropriations bills. For its part, the Senate Appropriations Committee announced it intends to begin holding markups this month, the step before advancing bills to the floor for a vote. 

The House bill cuts funding for several NTEU-represented agencies including the Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Justice, Department of Energy, and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The committee also rejected several amendments to the Financial Services and General Government bill that would have supported federal employees, including amendments that would provide an average 3.1 percent pay increase for 2027 and restore collective bargaining for roughly 1 million federal employees whose rights were eliminated.

In his fiscal 2027 budget proposal, the president is silent on the issue of federal employee pay, suggesting a pay freeze for 2027, while calling for members of the military to receive a pay increase of 5 to 7 percent, depending on rank. NTEU continues to call for a fair pay raise for all federal employees. 

Another NTEU-supported amendment that was rejected would have blocked the Schedule Policy/Career Executive Order aimed at reclassifying federal employees with the goal of removing their due process rights.

We’ll keep you updated as negotiations continue. In the meantime, tell your members of Congress to adequately fund agencies.