CQ Morning Briefing

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.

A House Agriculture reconciliation markup resumes while other panels also continue their markups. A Budget Committee requirement could be a stumbling block in the reconciliation process. Top Trump appointees continue their appearances before Congress regarding the fiscal 2026 budget proposal. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

ventual SALT cap debates loom over a Ways and Means budget reconciliation markup. Medicaid cuts are on the table at a House Energy and Commerce markup, though more controversial provisions have been avoided. States could be sharing SNAP costs under the House Agriculture reconciliation proposal that's getting marked up starting this evening. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

This week, three House committees push final pieces of the GOP's reconciliation plan. Multiple Cabinet members again head to Capitol Hill for budget hearings. And Trump flies to the Middle East for meetings with Arab leaders. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, May 12, 2025.

Expectations for reconciliation tax cuts shift, and Trump backs a higher rate for top earners. A key senator is already floating a return to the Senate's two-step budget reconciliation approach. And the path to a full State Department reauthorization is paved with potential Democratic objections. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, May 9, 2025.

GOP lawmakers continue to debate changes to Medicaid and the so-called SALT cap. Noem and Patel round out a week of administration officials on the Hill. Today is the 60-day deadline for Republicans to walk back Biden-era regulations via the Congressional Review Act. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, May 8, 2025.

House Republicans seem to rule out a pair of major Medicaid cuts. Concerns about approaches to defense spending could prove a roadblock for the White House's touted $1 trillion Pentagon budget proposal. Tariff deal announcements could come as early as this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

The House Committee on Natural Resources holds a reconciliation markup. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent heads to Capitol Hill. A stablecoin regulation bill bumps into a Senate roadblock. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

Good morning. Appropriators get into the swing of things this week as hearings follow the White House unveiling its "skinny" budget request. At the same time, House reconciliation markups seem likely to slow down. And a tire emissions rule is set for a procedural vote in the Senate today. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, May 5, 2025.

The White House sends Congress its fiscal 2026 budget outline today ahead of related hearings next week. As Republicans keep working on tax and Medicaid language, their reconciliation timeline could be shifting. And Trump's Waltz switch-up means a testy confirmation process is ahead. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, May 2, 2025.

House Republicans weigh Medicaid changes and a SALT shakeup ahead of more reconciliation markups in the days ahead. Senate GOP appropriators may seek changes to an expected rescissions request. On the floor, the House deals with two resolutions of disapproval related to California. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Immigration policy is in the spotlight as the House Judiciary Committee marks up a reconciliation proposal with billions of dollars in spending increases. Lawmakers on three panels consider reconciliation-enabled cuts and new revenue sources. Trump's push for rescissions might be delayed thanks to budget reconciliation. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Budget reconciliation markups kick off with a trio of House panels — and much more to come over the next few weeks. The Senate holds a confirmation vote on Trump's nominee to be ambassador to China. Trump speaks in Michigan to mark his 100th day in office. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Budget reconciliation markups kick off this week. A trio of joint resolutions up for House consideration could depart from precedent. And the Trump administration will cross the 100-day mark this week. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, April 28, 2025.

Rubio plans a makeover for the State Department. An upcoming Supreme Court ruling could expand the HHS secretary's power. Lobbying disclosures surge as lawmakers seek to extend the 2017 tax cuts. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Lawmakers are on recess this week after a jam-packed start to 2025. When they return, they'll have to tackle key legislative priorities – but Trump's influence on a recent vote could indicate a reshuffled approach to spending bills. And Sen. Josh Hawley's evolution on Medicaid epitomizes the potential struggle ahead as the GOP looks to find spending cuts in reconciliation. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

Lawmakers have started their two-week recess, but when they get back, Republicans will be tasked with writing their reconciliation bill. A key challenge will be how to deal with potential controversial cuts to Medicaid. And some Republicans are also wary of zeroing out certain clean energy incentives. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, April 11, 2025.

House GOP leaders try to push through a budget blueprint after Wednesday's setback. The GOP gets a reprieve as Trump scales back many of his tariffs. A more flexible sort of contracting gets a look ahead of next year's NDAA. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 10.

rump wants GOP holdouts to "close your eyes and get there" on a revised budget resolution. A Senate subcommittee holds a hearing with a Facebook employee-turned-critic. On the floor, senators vote on several ambassador nominees. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

The House floor could unlock today for action thanks to a compromise related to proxy voting. House GOP leaders look to increase support for the revised budget resolution, which could go before the Rules Committee today. Trump's deadline for China to lift its retaliatory tariffs is today, and a Senate hearing could indicate how some more cautious Republicans might be feeling about it all. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Good morning. House leaders hope to adopt a revised budget resolution the Senate OK'd over the weekend. The House is also expected to take up measures that were postponed from last week. And Trump's trade representative testifies twice this week as tariffs roil the markets. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, April 7, 2025.

A "vote-a-rama" on the budget resolution is set to begin — but a slow-rolled procedural vote raises potential concerns. Republican senators release bills that would limit Trump's tariff abilities. And an inspector general investigates the Defense secretary's use of a controversial Signal group chat. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, April 4, 2025.

Senate Republicans prepare to act on their newly unveiled compromise budget resolution. A Senate vote previews potential pushback to Trump's latest tariff plan. House Appropriations Republicans reveal their guidelines for fiscal 2026 earmark asks. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Senate Republicans prepare to dodge concerns about a "current-policy baseline" in reconciliation. GOP leaders dismiss the House for the week as their push to kill a proxy-voting proposal is stymied. The Supreme Court hears a case on the ability of states to make Medicaid participation decisions. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

Senate Republicans prepare for a vote-a-rama on a compromise budget resolution. A Senate committee votes on the nomination of Trump's pick to lead the Social Security Administration. Senate Democrats want the GOP on the record regarding the emergency declaration that led to tariffs on Canada. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Trump's pick to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff is going before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week. Trump throws his support behind a D.C. budget fix, with the ball in Speaker Johnson's court. And Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy heads to the Hill to pitch Trump's infrastructure goals. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, March 31, 2025.

Senate Republicans push forward on a revised budget resolution as House GOP tax writers continue their own work. Conservatives focus on attacking Planned Parenthood ahead of Supreme Court oral arguments next week. And Trump's withdrawal of Elise Stefanik's nomination for U.N. ambassador will reboot the confirmation process. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, March 28, 2025.

The Senate could put a compromise budget resolution on the floor as soon as next week. A CBO debt limit prediction gives lawmakers a clearer timeline for increase talks. Members of both parties push back on the administration's defense of a Signal group chat. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 27, 2025.

House and Senate Republican leaders feel more optimistic about budget resolution talks. Republicans plan to act on a bill to restrict federal district courts' ability to impose nationwide injunctions. Intelligence leaders testify before lawmakers again today, this time at a House panel, as some leaders promise further scrutiny.

Amid controversy over a reported Signal chat, some intelligence leaders appear at a previously scheduled Senate hearing. The Senate Finance Committee weighs in on the nomination of Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A House Appropriations subcommittee holds a hearing about Capitol complex security. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

Republicans enter a key period for reconciliation talks. The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case about race in redistricting. And lawmakers weigh air transportation improvement efforts ahead of a panel's hearing on the Potomac collision earlier this year. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, March 24, 2025.

Republicans want to bring back earmarks — but there could be some difficulties. Innovation will be a focus for lawmakers as they discuss the next NDAA, according to a key House Republican. Some House Republicans mull impeaching federal judges based solely on their rulings. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Senate Democrats could allow a stopgap they largely dislike to advance. CMS administrator nominee Mehmet Oz goes before the Senate Finance Committee for a hearing. House Democrats wrap up their annual policy retreat. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, March 14, 2025.