Key Takeaways
- •Robert R. Newlen (Acting Librarian of Congress, Library of Congress) requested a 3.8 percent budget increase, while Hugh Nathaniel Halpern (Director, U.S. Government Publishing Office) proposed flat funding.
- •Newlen testified that a $5.4 million investment in a centralized AI platform is essential for the Congressional Research Service to analyze big data and maintain data integrity.
- •Rep. Valadao (R, CA-22) questioned the necessity of the AI platform, leading Newlen to warn that the Library would be "left behind" without the ability to train models.
- •Rep. LaLota (R, NY-1) scrutinized the Library's budget increase exceeding inflation, while Rep. Espaillat (D, NY-13) argued that predictable funding is necessary to protect the workforce and services.
- •This hearing initiates the FY 2027 appropriations process with a focus on balancing technological modernization and cybersecurity against fiscal constraints ahead of America's 250th anniversary celebrations.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch met on March 6, 2026, to review the fiscal year 2027 budget requests for the Library of Congress (LOC) and the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO). Chairman David Valadao (R, CA-22) opened the hearing by highlighting the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, noting that both agencies play critical roles in preserving and documenting American history. The hearing focused on the institutions' efforts to modernize through artificial intelligence (AI), strengthen cybersecurity, and manage workforce transitions while maintaining core services for Congress and the public.
Key Testimony
Robert R. Newlen, the Acting Librarian of Congress, presented a budget request of $931.5 million, representing a 3.8 percent increase over the enacted fiscal year 2026 level. Newlen emphasized that this would be the first budget increase for the Library in three years. The request includes $24 million to cover mandatory pay and price increases and $11 million for program enhancements. A central pillar of the request is a $5.4 million investment in a centralized AI enterprise platform. Newlen testified that while the Library uses commercial AI where possible, a secure, internal platform is necessary to handle confidential data and train models on unique data types without risking privacy or data integrity. He noted that the Congressional Research Service (CRS) would be a primary beneficiary, using the platform to provide quantitative analysis of "big data" for members. Newlen also highlighted the "Declaration’s Promise" exhibition and the 50th anniversary of the American Folklife Center as key public engagement milestones for 2026.
Industry Impact
Hugh Nathaniel Halpern, Director of the U.S. Government Publishing Office, submitted a flat budget request of $132 million. Halpern explained that GPO operates primarily as a business enterprise, with only 9 percent of its $1.3 billion revenue coming from direct appropriations. The remainder is generated through billings to federal customers, including the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Defense. Halpern credited GPO’s ability to maintain flat funding to aggressive modernization, such as transitioning from traditional offset printing to digital inkjet technology, which significantly reduced per-print costs for the Congressional Record and Federal Register. He also noted that 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of GPO producing the U.S. passport, with production expected to reach 30 million units annually in the coming years.
Policy Proposals
The discussion on cybersecurity was prominent, with Ranking Member Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13) questioning the witnesses on their posture against foreign threats. Halpern recounted a past incident where actors associated with the Islamic Republic of Iran defaced an FDLP website, serving as a "wake-up call" to move public-facing systems to more secure platforms. Newlen cited the catastrophic cyberattack on the British Library as a cautionary tale, stating that the LOC faces tens of thousands of attacks annually and must prioritize protecting legislative data on Congress.gov.
Industry Impact
Partisan dynamics were generally cooperative, though some friction emerged regarding past funding levels. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-3) criticized previous House majority proposals to cut the Library’s budget, arguing that "predictable funding matters" for institutional stability. She also engaged in a notable exchange with Rep. Riley Moore (R, WV-2) regarding a recent government shutdown and the funding of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While Rep. Moore highlighted the impact of shutdowns on GPO’s revenue, Rep. DeLauro defended her efforts to fund non-controversial DHS components like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Key Testimony
Several specific organizational contexts were addressed during the testimony. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) was discussed regarding its 76,000 annual congressional requests and the need for AI to clear a backlog of bill summaries. The Office of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) was mentioned in relation to delays in the Library’s visitor experience initiative and the need for a new power plant to support storage modules at Fort Meade. The James Madison Council was praised for its philanthropic support, specifically for the acquisition of a rare 1855 drawing of Yosemite Falls. Newlen also noted the Library’s partnership with StoryCorps to preserve oral histories, including a project documenting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overview
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D, MD-5) raised a significant policy concern regarding the governance of the Library, arguing that the President of the United States should not have the authority to dismiss the Librarian of Congress, as the agency is a "congressional arm." He suggested a bipartisan structure for oversight to ensure operational independence. Rep. Nick LaLota (R, NY-1) questioned the necessity of the Library's 3.8 percent increase, asking for justification for growth that exceeds the rate of inflation. Newlen responded that the Library has already reduced its workforce from 5,000 in the 1990s to 3,100 today, and further cuts would erode essential services.
The hearing concluded with the witnesses identifying future needs. Newlen expressed a "vision" for expanded policy coverage in CRS and a leadership role for the Library in legislative branch AI. Halpern focused on the continued development of XPub, GPO’s next-generation composition engine, and the ongoing expansion of GovInfo, which recently surpassed 2 billion information retrieval requests. No specific deadlines for follow-up were set, though members were invited to submit additional questions for the record.
Transcript
The subcommittee will come to order. The subject of today's hearing is fiscal year 2027 budget request for the Library of Congress and the U.S. Government Publishing Office, GPO. Today's hearing marks the beginning of the subcommittee's fiscal year 2027 appropriations hearing season. In addition to our hearings being broadcast live, this hearing will include closed captioning options. Last year, the House Modernization and Innovation Subcommittee recommended this technology for all committees across the House. As the chairman of the subcommittee that provides the funding for the modernization project, I was pleased to approve the funds providing greater accessibility for those participating in committee hearings. I'd like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat and our committee members for being here today. I particularly appreciate your flexibility with the schedule for remaining in town for this important hearing. I'd also like to thank Mr. Robert Newlen, the Acting Librarian of Congress, and Mr. and Director Halpern from the U.S. Government Publishing Office for being here today and for accommodating the hearing schedule change. The Library is looking forward to an exciting year of celebrating America's 250th birthday with the new exhibition entitled The Declaration's Promise, opening in July. The Government Publishing Office is celebrating its 165th birthday this week. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the GPO's production of the U.S. passport. We appreciate the efforts of each of your staff for the work they do to help Congress and to celebrate this historic American milestone. Library of Congress fiscal year 2027 budget request is offsetting with offsetting amounts totals $931.5 million, a 3.8 percent increase from the enacted fiscal year 2026 funding. The requested budget would support professionals and staff across the Library, including the Congressional Research Service. The Library's requests also includes modest investments in technology, including AI, cybersecurity, and cloud improvements, and other efforts to modernize Library systems. The Government Publishing Office has requested flat funding for 132 million, flat funding of $132 million for fiscal year 2027. Director Halpern, congratulations. A flat budget request isn't something I see very often in this chair. The GPO request was developed utilizing zero-based budgeting as directed by this subcommittee, utilizing savings through enhanced technologies, including AI, while also absorbing increased raw material and labor costs. Thank you again for joining us today, and I look forward to hearing your testimonies and learning more about your budget priorities for fiscal year 2027. I now recognize Ranking Member Espaillat for his opening remarks.
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