(March 3, 2026) - While the war in the Middle East consumes headlines across the country and energy on Capitol Hill, Congress is quietly organizing its plans for the start of the appropriations season. Taxing and spending authority is Congress's greatest power, and over the last couple of years, despite government shutdowns, regular order has been slowly returning to the budgeting process. Appropriations committees in both the House and Senate completed their work on the federal budget last year on time, but larger political dynamics delayed the budget's ultimate passage.
This year, Congress is proactively beginning the process once more. Although President Donald Trump has not yet presented his fiscal year 2027 budget proposal to Congress, the Appropriations Committees are increasing their activity. House members are being asked to submit appropriations requests for both programmatic issues and congressionally directed spending, or earmarks, by this week. Representatives Sharice Davids and Derek Schmidt from Kansas are currently accepting these requests.
Representative Davids' deadline is tomorrow, March 4, by the close of business. You can find her office's form here.
Representative Schmidt's deadline is Friday, March 6, by the close of business. You can find the form for his office here.
Our Senators have not yet released guidance, but we expect it in the next two weeks. Generally, the House begins its appropriations process before the Senate.