U.S. House barely passes third of dozen government funding bills as shutdown deadline looms
By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square
The U.S. House inched forward in the annual government funding process Thursday by narrowly passing a third appropriations bill, leaving nine more bills to go.
The 76-page legislation allocates a total of $57.3 billion to federal agencies and programs handling energy and water infrastructure. Four Republicans ultimately joined all Democrats present in opposing the bill, resulting in a nail-biter 214-213 final vote.
“America’s prosperity begins with energy. The Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Appropriations Act unleashes American energy dominance, lowers costs for families and businesses, and restores confidence in our grid,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said after the vote.
“Energy strength is national strength – fueling jobs, innovation, and resilience in every community – and no longer will traditional energy sources be punished for being affordable and reliable,” Cole added.
More than $25 billion is allocated for both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons development, roughly $9.9 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, and $8.4 billion for the Office of Science. The bill also includes major investments in mining technology for critical mineral extraction, as well as zeroes out funding for the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations Department and multiple DEI-related programs.
Although the Department of Energy is given $7.7 billion for environmental management and contamination cleanup activities, the amount is less than Democrats wanted. That, as well as $687 million going to fossil fuel development and added cuts to renewable energy initiatives, led all House Democrats to oppose the bill.
Senate Democrats will likely have the same reaction, a major problem given that at least seven non-Republican votes are needed for final passage.
So far, no appropriations bills have passed both chambers of Congress. Only three of those bills have passed the House, including the legislation passed Thursday, while a three-bill minibus is the only 2026 appropriations legislation that has passed the Senate.
Lawmakers have until Sept. 30 – the end of fiscal year 2025 – to pass all 12 appropriations bills providing funding for federal agencies in fiscal year 2026, otherwise, they risk a government shutdown.
The slow progress is a result of Republicans spending months on crafting and passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and more recently, Democrats slow-walking the confirmation process of President Donald Trump’s civilian nominees.
Given the relative lack of bipartisanship and the fast-approaching shutdown deadline, lawmakers will most likely resort to passing a Continuing Resolution to keep government funding on cruise control until all 12 bills are finished.
* * *
••• Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 26 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.