Key Takeaways
- •Michael G. Sullivan (Chief, United States Capitol Police) requested a $1.023 billion FY 2027 budget to address a 58 percent annual surge in threats against members.
- •Sullivan testified that the department investigated nearly 15,000 threats in 2025 and requires approximately 500 additional officers to eliminate structural reliance on mandatory staff overtime.
- •Rep. Nick LaLota (R, NY-1) urged Sullivan to increase recruitment of military veterans to improve the graduation rates of training classes without lowering the department's professional standards.
- •Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-3) condemned the pardoning of January 6 rioters and the delayed, late-night installation of an officer memorial plaque.
- •Rep. Jodey Arrington (R, TX-19) requested funding for the first independent audit of the Congressional Budget Office in 50 years to improve the accuracy and transparency of legislative scoring.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch met on March 17, 2026, to consider the fiscal year 2027 budget request for the United States Capitol Police (USCP). Chairman David Valadao (R, CA-22) opened the hearing by noting that the USCP is requesting $1.023 billion for FY 2027, representing a 12 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. This request marks the first time the department’s budget proposal has exceeded the $1 billion threshold. The funding is primarily intended to support the continued growth of sworn and civilian personnel, as well as a $15.7 million multi-year request for IT and physical security modernization.
Chief Michael G. Sullivan, testifying in his first appearance before the subcommittee, emphasized that his primary priority is the safety of members, staff, and visitors. He detailed a stark increase in the threat environment, noting that the USCP investigated nearly 15,000 concerning statements and threats in 2025—a 58 percent increase from 2024 and a doubling of the threat volume seen in 2022. Chief Sullivan highlighted the operational success of the Protective Intelligence Operations Center and the establishment of mutual aid agreements in all 50 states, which allow the USCP to surge resources or coordinate with local law enforcement across the country.
Key Testimony
A significant portion of the hearing focused on staffing and recruitment. Chief Sullivan testified that the department is currently short approximately 400 to 500 officers to meet its expanded mission requirements without a structural reliance on overtime. While the department currently hires 24 recruits per month, graduation rates fluctuate, sometimes falling as low as 14 per class. Rep. Nick LaLota (R, NY-1) suggested increasing recruitment of military veterans to improve graduation rates and morale. The discussion also touched on retention challenges, with Rep. Steny Hoyer (D, MD-5) noting that agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the United States Border Patrol offer significant signing bonuses that the USCP does not currently match, leading to the loss of younger officers to other federal entities.
Overview
Partisan tensions were evident throughout the hearing, particularly regarding the legacy of the January 6 Capitol attack. Ranking Member Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-3) criticized the administration’s decision to pardon individuals convicted in relation to the attack, arguing it diminished the sacrifices of USCP officers and harmed morale. They also expressed frustration over the installation of a commemorative plaque honoring responding officers. The plaque was recently installed on the United States Senate side of the Capitol in the middle of the night, which Rep. Espaillat characterized as an "embarrassing" and "hidden" process necessitated by opposition within the United States House of Representatives leadership.
Policy Proposals
Policy proposals discussed included the Security Network Modernization and Convergence Program, a $15.1 million initiative to protect the Capitol complex against cyberattacks and modernize security infrastructure. Chief Sullivan also discussed the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) program, which embeds prosecutors to handle threat cases regionally. Regarding physical security, Chief Sullivan acknowledged the vulnerability of the "open campus" environment but noted that while the department uses canine units and bicycle patrols, it has not yet identified technology for detecting explosives in backpacks that is ready for "prime time" implementation.
Notable Exchanges
The subcommittee also addressed the closure of pilot field offices. Chairman Valadao questioned the status of offices in locations like San Francisco, following a recommendation from the Capitol Police Board that they offered an insufficient return on investment. Chief Sullivan confirmed that the San Francisco office is not being backfilled and that a formal assessment of the field office program would be presented to the Board later in the month.
Key Testimony
Following the USCP testimony, the subcommittee held a "Member Day" segment. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R, TX-19), Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget, testified to request funding for an independent audit of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Chairman Arrington argued that the CBO has not undergone an independent audit of its methodologies or operations in its 50-year history. He emphasized that such an audit is necessary to ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and transparency of the scores provided to Congress, regardless of which party is in power.
The hearing concluded with no specific deadlines set, though the subcommittee will use the testimony to draft the FY 2027 Legislative Branch appropriations bill. Organizations mentioned during the hearing included the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), which was noted for its role in installing the January 6 plaque; the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), cited regarding coordination on threat prosecutions; and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), mentioned by Chairman Arrington as an entity that has not yet audited the CBO. The Library of Congress and Government Publishing Office (GPO) were referenced by Ranking Member Espaillat in a complaint regarding decorum and the "gaveling down" of members during a previous subcommittee hearing.
Transcript
Meeting will come to order. The subject of today's hearing is fiscal year 2027 budget request for U.S. Capitol Police. I'd like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat, Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, and our subcommittee members for being here today. Chief Sullivan, we welcome you to your first appearance before this subcommittee and we appreciate your willingness to serve as our chief of police. We look forward to hearing your testimony today. The fiscal year 2027 request is $1 billion. 23 million primarily supporting continued growth to both sworn and civilian personnel. A 12 percent increase over the fiscal year 26 level and an increase over 37 percent in general expenses. The request also includes new multi-year request of 15.7 million for IT and physical security modernization. While I intend to keep my comments brief, I want to again take this opportunity to express our continued gratitude to the officers of the United States Capitol Police. Thank you all for what you do to keep our campus safe and for all those who visit and work here. I now yield to Ranking Member Espaillat for his opening remarks.
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