I voted for the FY2026 funding package: what that means for Northwest Washington

On Tuesday, I voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2026 funding package, which provides full-year funding for jobs, education, health care, and national security priorities, along with two weeks of funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

These funding bills are a rejection of the Trump administration's agenda, and supporting the package also means avoiding another harmful government shutdown.

Eliminating the Department of Education? Rejected. Cutting life-saving medical research? Rejected. Gutting the Department of Labor, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Homeless Assistance Grants? Rejected, rejected, rejected.

Additionally, Democrats have successfully held back full-year funding for DHS until oversight and accountability for ICE are in the law. Providing two weeks of funding for DHS ensures that FEMA, air traffic control, and the Coast Guard remain funded and operational while we negotiate a full-year funding bill that ensures ICE follows the same rules as every other law enforcement agency.

I supported this package of funding because it rejects Trump's agenda and isolates DHS funding, which will be negotiated separately in the coming weeks.

More soon,

Rick