GOP fiscal hawks balk at $5.7B for refugees in 2026 HHS funding bill

GOP fiscal hawks balk at $5.7B for refugees in 2026 HHS funding bill

Spread the love

When Congress returns next week, lawmakers will have less than a month to pass the remaining nine appropriations bills funding federal agencies in fiscal year 2026.

Already, however, there are signs of further delay, with two Republican senators pledging to vote against the bill for Labor and Health and Human Services due to its inclusion of $5.69 billion for refugee assistance services.

The amount is less than the $6.3 billion that HHS’s Administration of Children and Families, which runs various refugee and asylee support programs, received in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

But it is still three times higher than funding levels prior to Joe Biden’s presidency, leading U.S. Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., to vocally oppose the Labor-HHS funding bill.

Congressionally-appropriated funding for REA programs – which provide medical, employment, childcare and cash assistance to eligible refugees – amounted to $1.91 billion in fiscal year 2021.

Lawmakers massively boosted appropriations funding for ACF’s Refugee and Entrant Assistance programs once Biden assumed office, with $4.8 billion going to REA programs via the fiscal year 2022 appropriations package alone.

That number again jumped – to $6.42 billion – the next fiscal year and remained virtually the same for fiscal year 2024. Since Congress never passed a fiscal year 2025 budget, instead relying on a series of Continuing Resolutions, ACF has continued to receive over $6 billion for REA programs annually.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., intends to hold a vote on a five-bill appropriations minibus, which includes the Labor-HHS bill, as soon as lawmakers return.

The bipartisan minibus also includes fiscal year 2026 funding for federal agencies that handle Transportation and Housing and Urban Development; Defense; Commerce, Justice, and Science; and Interior.

If Congress does not pass those bills in some form by Feb. 1, the end date of the current CR, they risk a partial government shutdown.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

House Oversight to examine Medicare fraud, Smithsonian, DEI policies

House Oversight to examine Medicare fraud, Smithsonian, DEI policies

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is set to host three hearings on issues that have been ongoing priorities for...
Judge delays merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.

Judge delays merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A federal judge Monday granted a temporary restraining order halting the $110 billion merger between Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. and Paramount Skydance Corp. A coalition...
Illinois news in brief: Ammons House investigation hearing set; IDOT requests public feedback; Duckworth reacts to service member's death

Illinois news in brief: Ammons House investigation hearing set; IDOT requests public feedback; Duckworth reacts to service member’s death

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Ammons House investigation hearing set The Illinois House Special Investigative Committee appointed to look into alleged wrongdoings by Rep. Carol Ammons,...
Text messages aren’t ‘phone calls’ that can trigger class actions: Appeals panel

Text messages aren’t ‘phone calls’ that can trigger class actions: Appeals panel

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square (Legal Newsline) - Text messages aren't "phone calls," and can't be used to bring class action lawsuits against companies for allegedly violating...
Darline Graham will file for full term succeeding brother Lindsey

Darline Graham will file for full term succeeding brother Lindsey

By Alan WootenThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, sworn in last Tuesday to fulfill the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s term, said Monday she’ll file for the special...
Election 2026: Prisoners in historic release by Cooper consistent in pattern

Election 2026: Prisoners in historic release by Cooper consistent in pattern

By Alan WootenThe Center Square More than 700 prisoners released in addition to U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper’s historic settlement-based 3,500 have a pattern consistent with either homicide, sex offenses,...
Secretary of State says insurance reforms are not political

Secretary of State says insurance reforms are not political

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says he is offended by a state lawmaker’s suggestion that Giannoulias...
Details show Speaker delayed lawmaker misconduct action

Details show Speaker delayed lawmaker misconduct action

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New investigative reporting revealed last week that Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch knew of misconduct by...
Man suspected of using ‘incendiary device’ arrested outside NYC immigration court

Man suspected of using ‘incendiary device’ arrested outside NYC immigration court

By Chris WadeThe Center Square A man is in custody after allegedly setting off an "incendiary device" outside a federal immigration court building in New York City Monday morning, authorities...
Gubernatorial candidate calls for leadership overhaul, prison reforms

Gubernatorial candidate calls for leadership overhaul, prison reforms

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Independent Illinois gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett says persistent staffing shortages, aging equipment and what he describes...
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Alaska plane confiscation case

U.S. Supreme Court to hear Alaska plane confiscation case

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case over whether an Alaskan pilot's plane can be seized after he transported alcohol into a town...
Illinois news in brief: Chicago police review Illinois Accountability Commission report; Granite City man sentenced for transporting minor in sex assault case; Report finds Illinois' AI careers rank 34th in nation

Illinois news in brief: Chicago police review Illinois Accountability Commission report; Granite City man sentenced for transporting minor in sex assault case; Report finds Illinois’ AI careers rank 34th in nation

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Chicago police review Illinois Accountability Commission report Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is encouraging people whose experiences are described in the...
Service member killed in action; remains found in search for one missing

Service member killed in action; remains found in search for one missing

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Another U.S. service member has been killed following Iranian strikes in the Middle East, as remains were found in the search for a missing military...
Second family welcomes baby boy

Second family welcomes baby boy

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square And the new baby makes six – Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance welcomed a baby boy Sunday morning. The vice president...

Everyday Economics: Falling gas prices helped keep consumers spending

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square Inflation fell more than expected in June. That gave consumers some breathing room, and they kept spending – even if they became more selective about...