CQ Morning Briefing

The House Oversight panel subpoenas the Justice Department and others for files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Floor work on a fiscal 2026 defense policy bill awaits senators when they return from recess. A senator puts a hold on a trio of Treasury Department nominations ahead of the agency's expected rollout of a plan to phase out clean energy credits. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 6, 2025.

Senate leadership looks for a way forward on a spending package after a bid to move a quartet of bills fell short. House Republicans see more earmarked projects in seven spending bills than last year. And a Republican senator puts a hold on the nomination for the top health care role at the Pentagon. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, August 1, 2025.

After a flash of Democratic opposition, lawmakers could be headed toward a deal on an appropriations floor package. Senate appropriators mark up the Defense and Labor-HHS-Education spending bills. Republicans have process concerns over a USDA plan to disperse its workforce. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, July 31, 2025.

The Senate resolves some holds on a three-bill appropriations minibus. The Senate Agriculture Committee digs into the planned USDA reorganization. The U.S. attorney appointment process is becoming a political battleground. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

The Senate looks to address some holdups to a planned three-bill appropriations package. The Senate holds a grain standards reauthorization hearing. Lawmakers raise concerns about cuts to the Pentagon's weapons-testing office. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Senate appropriators look to mark up their two largest spending bills before going on break. Senate NDAA floor action is likely to be pushed to after the August recess. The Department of Agriculture looks to relocate more than half of its Washington-based workforce. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, July 25, 2025.

Senate appropriators want to tie three additional spending bills to a Military Construction-VA measure. Trump's former defense attorney nears a key floor vote for an appellate court seat. Farm bill talks are coming up – and some lawmakers are already launching attacks against a California animal welfare law. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, July 24, 2025.

The Senate makes progress on its first fiscal 2026 spending measure to hit the floor — even as Democrats remain dubious about bipartisanship. The House finishes up floor action ahead of the August recess. The House and Senate NDAAs look to address flight safety. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

The House floor schedule has become lighter than planned, while House appropriators mark up another bill. Potential Senate appropriations floor work nears a procedural hurdle as Democratic support remains unclear. The House and Senate draft NDAAs would cover fertility treatments for active-duty military families. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Appropriators take efforts to advance more spending bills before lawmakers leave town for the summer break. The House prepares for a vote on a Coast Guard reauthorization bill. Both the House and Senate NDAAs propose a key nuclear policy change. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, July 21, 2025.

House Republicans look to get back on track for floor work on cryptocurrency and Defense spending bills. A rescissions package heads to Senate floor debate and a vote-a-rama after narrowly advancing past procedural hurdles. Key negotiators in reconciliation are already looking to make tweaks to the new law. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

The House Armed Services Committee tackles its fiscal 2026 NDAA, with hundreds of amendments proposed. As the House readies to take up a Defense spending bill, three House Appropriations subcommittees mark up other fiscal 2026 bills. The Senate could vote today on a procedural motion related to the rescissions package.

Appropriators continue their work in both chambers as the House's Defense spending bill gets prepped for the floor. The House marks up its fiscal 2026 NDAA while one senator says his chamber's bill could get a vote before August. The House hones in on cryptocurrency policy as a trio of bills head to the floor.

The House could vote next week on its Defense appropriations bill, while the Senate runs into trouble with one of its bills. A Senate-passed stablecoin bill is on the House's agenda for next week. And the military's use of foreign supply chains is under scrutiny in the House's draft fiscal 2026 NDAA. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, July 11, 2025.

Senate appropriators mark up a trio of fiscal 2026 appropriations bills. The Senate Armed Services Committee continues to mark up its fiscal 2026 NDAA. A Senate Republican holdout says he expects his concerns about a rescissions package to be addressed. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, July 10, 2025.

The full Senate Armed Services Committee begins its NDAA markup. Trump's FAA nominee gets a Senate floor vote. The Senate could vote on a rescissions package next week. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, July 8, 2025.

House Republican leaders seek to conclude the fiscal 2025 reconciliation saga today. The FBI no longer plans to move its HQ to Maryland. And there are now at least seven Senate races next fall with no incumbent on the ballot. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

Senators are set to begin a marathon "vote-a-rama" on the reconciliation bill this morning. The Senate Armed Services Committee is gearing up to dive into fiscal 2026 NDAA markups. And Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., says he will retire. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, June 30, 2025.

Republicans press forward in hopes of voting on a reconciliation bill in the coming days. There's a $4.5 billion-sized hole in the Defense Department's submarine construction request. And the Senate is expected to vote on a war powers resolution. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, June 27, 2025.

Senators are split on the level of funding for a rural hospital relief fund. Key Republican appropriators are raising concerns with a rescissions package. Senate appropriators plan to start fiscal 2026 markups after the (questionably) upcoming recess. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, June 26, 2025.

GOP leaders are considering keeping Congress in session amid a reconciliation push. Lawmakers are want more details about the strikes in Iran as briefings rescheduled. The House Military Construction-VA bill is set for floor action. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

Some GOP senators remain concerned about a Medicaid provision's impact on rural hospitals. A Senate floor vote is likely this week related to the U.S. strikes in Iran. House appropriators mark up a Homeland Security spending bill as immigration policy tensions rise. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, June 23, 2025.

The budget reconciliation package could go to the Senate floor — but some sticking points remain. Lawmakers react to the weekend airstrikes on Iran. And the House is scheduled to take up its Military Construction-VA appropriations bill this week. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, June 23, 2025.

Senate leaders want reconciliation floor action next week, but some Republicans have concerns. The rescissions clock is ticking as a recess and reconciliation work complicate the calendar. Lawmakers coalesce behind calls for increased security funding after political violence in Minnesota. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Senate Finance Republicans gear up for a showdown on some tax provisions in reconciliation. The panel's text would lower Medicaid provider tax caps for states. Lawmakers raise security concerns after a Minnesota state legislator was assassinated over the weekend and a second was shot. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

Senators are nearing a self-imposed reconciliation deadline as negotiations continue. Lawmakers raise aviation safety concerns related to spectrum auction talks in reconciliation. And defense and intelligence officials testify about their budgets against a backdrop of strikes in the Middle East. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, June 16, 2025.

A stablecoin regulation bill is ready for a Senate passage vote next week. A key House Republican opposes the Senate's proposed land sales provision in reconciliation. And Democrats want an investigation into federal agents' treatment of California Sen. Alex Padilla yesterday. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, June 13, 2025.

Senate Republicans are eyeing a late June floor vote on a reconciliation package, but have yet to hash out some differences. The Pentagon's budget is under a microscope today as lawmakers scrutinize the Defense Department. A rescissions package heads to the House floor in a test of the Trump administration's attempt to claw back funding. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, June 12, 2025.

The House is expected to vote today on a rule that would tee up a rescissions package and tweak the House-passed reconciliation bill. Appropriators consider a fiscal 2026 Agriculture bill at a full committee markup. Cabinet leaders, agency heads continue to discuss their budgets in a slew of hearings. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

The speaker expects a rundown of reconciliation provisions that don't mix with Senate rules. House Appropriators will wait on a full set of interim allocations even as markups ramp up. Lawmakers will have a chance to dig in on the Los Angeles protests in a set of hearings. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

The first full Appropriations Committee markup is set for Tuesday. Senate Republicans' reconciliation work continues as more committees roll out their proposals. And a rescissions package heads toward a planned floor vote this week. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, June 9, 2025.

The first full Appropriations Committee markup is set for Tuesday. Senate Republicans' reconciliation work continues as more committees roll out their proposals. And a rescissions package heads toward a planned floor vote this week. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, June 9, 2025.

Senators continue to work on changes to a reconciliation bill. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee unveils its budget reconciliation proposal. And House appropriators try to finalize their topline spending numbers. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, June 6, 2025.

The markup cycle for fiscal 2026 appropriations begins today in the House. Senate Republicans continue to weigh changes to budget reconciliation, with Medicare cuts emerging as an option for some. Some House Republicans raise concerns with clawbacks in a proposed rescissions package. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, June 5, 2025.

Debt ceiling talks are becoming a potential sticking point among senators in budget reconciliation. The rescissions countdown has started after the Trump administration sent Congress its request for $9.4 billion in clawbacks. Lutnick is among the Trump appointees testifying on the Hill today. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

A rescissions request heads to Capitol Hill as a test of lawmakers' appetite for more cuts. Education Secretary Linda McMahon is the first Cabinet secretary to appear on the Hill after the administration shared more budget details. Legislative branch agencies call for more funding amid proposed cuts at other agencies. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Fiscal 2026 appropriations markups start this week after the Trump administration unveiled a more detailed budget request on Friday. The reconciliation ball is in Senate Republicans' court. And a stablecoin regulation bill nears a Senate vote – but proposed amendments could pose a problem. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, June 2, 2025.

Republicans and Democrats are launching ads criticizing each other's budget reconciliation votes, as the Senate prepares to consider the bill. A reconciliation tax break related to auto loans may not have the impact some Republicans hope for. The Government Accountability Office won't sue the Trump administration over impounded funds just yet. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Senate Republicans are ready to change the House's budget reconciliation package. Appropriators could get more guidance on the Trump administration's budget request as soon as next week. And the Supreme Court allows Trump to fire members of national labor boards while court cases continue. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, May 23, 2025.

The House passed its sprawling reconciliation bill this morning. House appropriators schedule their markups for next year's spending bills. And Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is back on the Hill to defend her department's proposed budget cuts. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, May 22, 2025.

Trump heads to the Hill as the House GOP tries to reach consensus on budget reconciliation. The Senate moves forward on a stablecoin bill. Secretary of State Rubio appears before a pair of Senate panels.

The GOP reconciliation bill is a step closer to a House floor vote. Budget testimony continues with the secretaries of State and Interior heading to the Hill this week, among others. And Democrats are decrying an attempt to get DOGE into the Government Accountability Office. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, May 19, 2025.

The House reconciliation bill gets a Budget Committee markup, though GOP concerns remain. The Supreme Court could back some restrictions on nationwide injunctions. And Democrats further press Trump on plans to accept a jumbo jet from the Qatari royal family. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, May 16, 2025.

The reconciliation bill got over a key hurdle, with its sections advancing out of House committees, but future hurdles remain. The Supreme Court hears oral arguments related to efforts to eliminate birthright citizenship. The stream of Trump appointees on Capitol Hill for budget hearings continues. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, May 15, 2025.