Appropriations subcommittee advances FY26 legislative branch bill amid dispute over GAO cuts and security funding

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch voted to favorably report its fiscal year 2026 legislative branch appropriations bill after a contentious markup in which members sharply disagreed over funding levels for the Government Accountability Office and security-related reimbursements.

Chairman David Valadao introduced the subcommittee bill and described it as “responsible funding decreases where appropriate,” saying the measure provides $5,000,000,000 for the legislative branch — a reduction from the prior enacted level. The motion to report the bill to the full committee was made by Mr. Moore and carried on a recorded vote of 6 ayes to 4 noes.

The markup centered on several contested provisions. Ranking Member Adriano Espaillat objected to what he described as large cuts to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and to reductions affecting the Library of Congress and House operations. “I cannot in good…