Key Takeaways
- •The subcommittee approved the FY27 CJS and Legislative Branch bills on party-line votes, proposing a $77.3 billion CJS allocation and a 25 percent cut to the Government Accountability Office.
- •Rep. Rogers (R, KY-5) emphasized the bill's support for a new National Fraud Enforcement Division and NASA's Artemis II mission while reducing overall spending by $670 million.
- •Rep. Hoyer (D, MD-5) and Rep. Cole (R, OK-4) agreed that multi-year reconciliation funding undermines congressional oversight and the traditional appropriations process for law enforcement.
- •Republicans focused on protecting Second Amendment rights and "right-sizing" agencies, while Democrats opposed cuts to the ATF, Legal Services Corporation, and community violence intervention grants.
- •The legislation moves to the full committee as Democrats signaled plans to restore funding for scientific research, the GAO, and DACA recipients' eligibility for legislative employment.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing consisted of two separate subcommittee markups to consider the fiscal year 2027 appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) and the Legislative Branch. The proceedings highlighted a sharp partisan divide over federal spending priorities, with the Republican majority emphasizing "right-sizing" the government and protecting constitutional rights, while the Democratic minority warned that deep cuts to law enforcement, scientific research, and social services would jeopardize national security and economic competitiveness.
Key Testimony & Policy
The CJS portion of the markup focused on a $77.341 billion discretionary allocation, which represents a $670 million decrease from the fiscal year 2026 enacted level. Chairman Harold Rogers (R, KY-5) emphasized that the bill prioritizes "core missions" and supports the administration's efforts to combat fraud through a new $30 million National Fraud Enforcement Division within the Department of Justice (DOJ). The bill also increases funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to combat fentanyl and bolsters state and local law enforcement through the Byrne JAG formula program and the COPS hiring program. For NASA, the bill maintains funding to support the Artemis II mission and human space exploration, framed as a strategic necessity to maintain a competitive edge over China.
In contrast, Ranking Member Grace Meng (D, NY-6) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-3) detailed extensive cuts they argued would harm the public. These include a $285 million reduction for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which would reportedly result in the loss of over 1,000 personnel. The bill also eliminates funding for the Community Relations Service, community violence intervention grants, and hate crime prevention programs. Economic programs faced significant reductions, with the Economic Development Administration (EDA) cut by 36 percent ($144 million) and the International Trade Administration (ITA) cut by 25 percent ($142 million). Furthermore, the National Science Foundation (NSF) would see a $1.7 billion reduction, and the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) would be cut by more than half, potentially denying legal aid to millions of low-income Americans.
The Legislative Branch markup proposed a $5.4 billion budget for House and joint items. Chairman David Valadao (R, CA-22) highlighted a $55 million increase for the United States Capitol Police (USCP) and additional resources for the Member’s Representational Allowance (MRA) and the Office of Legislative Counsel. However, Ranking Member Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13) strongly opposed a 25 percent cut ($200 million) to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), noting that the agency’s oversight work generated $63 billion in savings in the previous year.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
A significant point of contention in the CJS markup was the lack of testimony from agency heads. Rep. Joseph Morelle (D, NY-25) and Rep. Madeleine Dean (D, PA-4) criticized the committee for moving to a markup without hearing from the directors of the FBI, DEA, or ATF, arguing that the administration had not been forthcoming. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D, MD-4) raised alarms regarding the DOJ's workforce, noting the loss of 3,400 prosecutors over the last 18 months and the difficulty of replacing them due to extensive background check requirements.
In the Legislative Branch markup, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D, MD-5) delivered a poignant critique of the "woefully under-resourced" legislative branch. He argued that Congress lacks the staff and resources to effectively oversee a massive executive branch, regardless of which party holds the White House. Rep. Mike Quigley (D, IL-5) introduced and then withdrew amendments regarding the long-standing freeze on Member of Congress salaries (COLA) and a proposal to allow Capitol Police officers to count overtime toward retirement pay. Rep. Quigley also argued that the Librarian of Congress should be appointed by Congress rather than the President to ensure independence.
The CJS bill was reported favorably to the full committee by a vote of 8-6, while the Legislative Branch bill was reported favorably by a vote of 5-4.
Organizations Mentioned
- United States Capitol Police (USCP): Received a $55 million funding increase to support security operations and personnel protecting the Capitol complex. - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): While the Artemis II mission received strong support to maintain leadership in space, the minority criticized a $1.3 billion cut to NASA’s science and education accounts. - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): Faced a $285 million budget cut, which Democrats claimed would force the layoff of 1,000 agents and weaken gun crime investigations. - Government Accountability Office (GAO): Subject to a 25 percent budget reduction ($200 million); Democrats argued this would cripple the agency's ability to root out government waste and fraud. - National Science Foundation (NSF): Targeted for a $1.7 billion cut, which critics argued would cede scientific and technological leadership to international competitors like China. - Legal Services Corporation (LSC): Funding was reduced by more than 50 percent, a move the minority stated would leave millions of veterans and seniors without civil legal assistance. - Economic Development Administration (EDA): Received a 36 percent funding cut, which members argued would stifle job creation in distressed rural and urban communities. - International Trade Administration (ITA): Funding was reduced by 25 percent, weakening its capacity to combat unfair trade practices and promote American exports.
What's Next
Both bills were favorably reported to the full House Appropriations Committee. Staff were granted unanimous consent to make technical and conforming changes. Copies of the amended bills and reports are expected to be delivered to full committee members at least three business days prior to the full committee markup. Rep. Quigley indicated he intends to reintroduce his amendments regarding the GAO, the Librarian of Congress, and Capitol Police retirement during the full committee proceedings.
Transcript
Subcommittee will be in order. Welcome to the subcommittee markup of the fiscal year 27 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. So welcome Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Ranking Member Meng. Not only are we marking 250 impressive years for our country, but we're also marking a remarkable recovery that has been ushered in since President Trump returned to office. Here in Congress, we're once again continuing our work of improving and moving appropriations bills that meet the needs of the American people and that support the administration's efforts. That's why I'm proud to present the fiscal year 27 CJS legislation, which carries on our work of right-sizing federal government to ensure Washington, D.C. is working on behalf of our citizens and not against them. The bill before us today provides a total of discretionary allocation of 77.341 billion, a $670 million decrease in spending below the fiscal year 2026 enacted level. To support President Trump's fight against fraud, the bill provides $30 million to the Department of Justice's new National Fraud Enforcement Division. With this funding, malicious actors that seek to defraud American citizens and their hard-earned money will be held accountable. No longer will these fraudsters operate in the shadows. Unfortunately, fentanyl and other opioids continue to ravage our communities and neighborhoods. To counter this devastation, this bill increases funding for the DEA within Department of Justice. I applaud DEA for taking down multiple cartel leaders, and with the funding provided in this bill, DEA's efforts will be strongly supported moving forward. Additionally, this bill also includes strong funding for our federal law enforcement components, which are working to secure our nation from threats. The fiscal year 27 bill also strongly supports the men and women in blue that protect our families by increasing funding for state and local law enforcement. From increased funding levels for the Byrne JAG formula program to the COPS hiring program, the fiscal year 27 legislation follows President Trump's example of putting our law enforcement first. Additionally, the 27 bill continues to bolster programs that support everyday Americans, including strong funding for more accurate weather forecasting and alerts and trade practices that in turn benefit our communities. To ensure America is the leader in space exploration, the 27 CJS bill also maintains strong funding levels for NASA. With the recent success of Artemis II, it's a critical time to invest in human space exploration and ensure that American astronauts are the first to return to the moon. With its sights on Mars, NASA will lead the way to the next frontier and safeguard our national security by ensuring America maintains a competitive advantage over China. The legislation also protects and reinforces constitutional rights, such as the Second Amendment, by reining in and refocusing the ATF and fully supporting DOJ's new Second Amendment section. Overall, the provisions and funding levels in the fiscal year 27 bill focus resources on protecting our families, our neighborhoods, and our nation. I want to thank all of the subcommittee members for their participation in budget hearings these past few weeks, including one this past Monday. Our subcommittee has been busy. I also want to thank Ranking Member Meng for her continued partnership over the last few months. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge Chairman Cole for his skilled leadership, and I might add, very successful leadership. Navigating 12 bills through committee is no easy task, and Chairman Cole does it with expertise. Also want to thank Ranking Member DeLauro for her determined advocacy, and finally, thanks to both the majority and minority staff for assisting with the development and production of this year's bill. I now recognize Ranking Member Meng for any opening remarks.
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