News about US Congress

Congress is in an October recess ahead of the midterms and must finish FY27 appropriations before the current continuing resolution expires on December 11. The White House appears to have backed away from an executive order giving political appointees control over NIH grants after bipartisan opposition, but appropriators are discussing language to protect grant decisions. President Trump proposed rescinding $810 million across 11 accounts just days before FY26 ended, and GAO concluded the Impoundment Control Act does not allow withholding such funds past expiration, a view OMB Director Russ Vought disputes. A GAO report found DOE had obligated about $51 billion (65%) of the $78 billion in remaining IIJA and IRA funds but disbursed only $6.6 billion (8.5%).