CQ Morning Briefing

Open enrollment is likely to begin with questions still surrounding expiring enhanced health insurance subsidies. More votes On tariffs, including a measure to end a 35 percent levy against Canada, are on tap this week. And another vote related to strikes on alleged drug-running boats is likely as soon as next week. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.

Hopes fade for a compromise on federal employees' pay. A move by a federal employee union illuminates Democrats' competing priorities. And Trump asks the Supreme Court to allow for removing the register of copyrights while her firing is in court. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.

The Agriculture Department says it lacks authority to fund food stamps while appropriations are lapsed. Senators focused on sanctioning Russia are on the same page as the EU. And the Energy Department wants to see speedier approvals for data centers. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.

It's Day 24 of the partial government shutdown. The Senate could compromise on a bill to pay federal workers during the shutdown. But a deal on health care subsidies is looking less likely. And the top House appropriator is looking to quickly get a three-bill spending package moving when the government reopens. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

With the shutdown now in a fourth week, the Senate holds a procedural vote on a bill to pay troops and certain civilian federal workers. The future for additional bipartisan Russia-related bills is unclear. And capital formation bills could be on tap in the Capitol once the House returns. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025.

The shutdown has now dragged long enough for Republicans to contemplate a longer stopgap funding measure. A dispute over hemp reemerges on the Agriculture spending bill. And defense authorizers want to have compromise text of their annual defense policy bill ready by early December. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.

It's Day 21 of the partial government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader John Thune ponders a potential longer-term stopgap. A Russia sanctions bill is on hold ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting. And the Supreme Court now has two major gun cases on this term's agenda. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.

It's Day 20 of the partial government shutdown. Furloughs are coming for judiciary and nuclear security staff. A federal judge expands her temporary block on shutdown layoffs. And action on the next cryptocurrency bill is being held up by language in...the previous cryptocurrency bill. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.

It's Day 17 of the partial government shutdown. Zelenskyy visits Trump. Democrats pan Thune's latest offer on a health care vote. And SNAP funding could run out soon. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.

It's Day 16 of the partial government shutdown. The Senate plans a procedural vote on a Defense spending bill. Appropriators are asking questions about how the Trump administration is paying the troops. And Sen. Lindsey Graham wants a vote on Russia sanctions. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.

It's Day 15 of the partial government shutdown, and the parties remain dug in. Laid off federal workers want Congress to get more details about their firings. And the Supreme Court hears a potentially landmark case on redistricting. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.

Senators are continuing to weigh paths out of a shutdown amid pressure related to military pay. The House and Senate are ready to hash out a final fiscal 2026 NDAA. And foreign countries are looking to take advantage of Trump's fee hike on applications for H-1B visas and attract foreign talent. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.

Though an exit route seems distant, Democrats are optimistic about an eventual deal on health care tax credits. A Defense and Labor-HHS-Education bundle is on Senate appropriators' radar for after the government reopens. Trump's nominee to be Air Force chief of staff gets a Senate confirmation hearing. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Oct. 8, 2025.

Democrats and Republicans remain at odds as the Trump administration threatens the back pay of furloughed employees. That pay could need additional legislative action to be released. Democrats push against Trump's recent military use. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025.

Trump signals that he's open to health care subsidy negotiations. Bondi appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee. And a Senate joint resolution related to U.S. strikes in the Caribbean Sea could see a vote as soon as this week. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025.

Some Republicans suggest there's a deal to be had to potentially end the shutdown, but Democrats aren't yet convinced. The Supreme Court kicks off its new term today. And the impact of a rollback of EV and renewable energy tax credits is beginning to be felt. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.

It's Day 3 of a partial government shutdown. Both sides are dug in, and no weekend Senate votes are currently expected. The administration raises the stakes in its rhetoric on efforts to combat drug cartels. And a key senator's AI framework is getting backing from Big Tech, but privacy and consumer advocates still have concerns. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, October 3, 2025.

Bipartisan talks to try to find a way out of the shutdown take shape. As courts navigate the shutdown, dozens of challenges to Trump administration policies are on pause. Hill staffers are bracing for the shutdown's impact. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025.

Today is the first day of a partial government shutdown after a funding deadline passed at midnight. Federal agencies are expected to furlough employees as the shutdown takes effect. Some senators are pushing a bill that would establish liabilities for AI developers. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.

Lawmakers are up against a deadline today to fund the government and avoid a partial shutdown. Agencies plan for a partial shutdown. And the stopgap situation slows down discussions on full-year appropriations. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.

Trump meets with leaders of both parties ahead of a potential government shutdown. The Senate Armed Services Committee has a hearing about the "Golden Dome" missile defense proposal. And Republicans hold a pair of hearings focused on crime. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.

The chances of a government shutdown increase as Trump cancels a meeting with Democrats. Trump's visa overhaul faces pushback, but follows years of congressional inaction. Some lawmakers raise concerns about the administration's acetaminophen guidance. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025.

The House is expected to vote on a spending stopgap — and then, so could the Senate. The Senate's defense authorization bill is slipping past a goal of wrapping up floor action this week. And HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gets invited to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.

The House nears a vote on a CR as Democrats unveil their own take on the legislation. Amid a broader push for federal control, the House Oversight Committee holds a hearing about Washington, D.C. A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee looks at 29 bills related to broadband regulation. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.

House Republicans are pushing their take on a spending stopgap as they attempt to lock in support from their conference. The newly unveiled CR would extend some health provisions and include funding for a Defense program that's a priority for lawmakers but not the Trump administration. The Senate is still hoping to wrap up fiscal 2026 NDAA action this week, though amendment talks are still ongoing. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.

A House GOP stopgap funding measure might get released as soon as today. The House could vote on a group of bills related to federal control of the District of Columbia. And the ousted CDC director makes her first public appearance since her firing for an oversight hearing. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.

Republicans want Trump's opinion on re-upping ACA tax credits. WIC and the FDA could be sticking points for an Agriculture appropriations conference. And some Republicans have concerns about Trump's "pocket rescission" attempt. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.

House Republicans are discussing a continuing resolution that would last through late November or early December. The Senate continues work on its defense policy bill after the House passed its own version. The Senate may move forward as soon as today on retooling consideration of some nominees.Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.

The House is expected to vote to go to conference with the Senate on three spending bills. House appropriators mark up a Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill. And the House could vote on its fiscal 2026 defense authorization bill as the Senate considers its own version. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.

House appropriators mark up a Labor-HHS-Education spending bill. The House Rules Committee continues its work on a rule for the chamber's NDAA. The Senate GOP moves forward on efforts to change the rules for some nominees. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2025.

Two House spending bills and one Senate spending bill get full committee markups. The defense authorization bills are on both the House and Senate agendas for this week. And a bill to increase criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants could come to the House floor. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Sept. 8, 2025.

Both chambers are expected to have their versions of the National Defense Authorization Act on the floor next week. The House Budget chair is looking at a two-pronged approach to a second reconciliation bill this fall. And Trump wants to rename the Department of Defense; a proposed NDAA amendment would codify it. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

Democrats are open to a bipartisan CR as the House looks to pass its Energy-Water spending bill. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. goes before the Senate Finance Committee. A bipartisan congressional stock trading bill could provide a path for action. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.

Lawmakers have a packed agenda for this fall, with appropriations and defense leading the way. Congress looks for a path forward on spending bills. The Senate is preparing for floor action on its fiscal 2026 NDAA. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025.

A House panel plans to investigate a Federal Reserve governor as she pushes back on Trump's efforts to oust her. Scientists resist a report about greenhouse gas emissions that has regulatory implications. Trump is pledging to repave roads within a three-mile radius of the White House with asphalt. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

The EPA continues a series of hearings about its plan to walk back its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The Justice Department is expected to release documents related to the Epstein case this week. Two former lawmakers mount comeback bids. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

District advocates look to Congress for a response to the Trump administration's takeover of D.C. police. Industry leaders await an expected reveal of clean energy tax credit guidance next week. Energy affordability could be an issue Democrats seize on in the 2026 midterms. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

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.