Reps. Sykes Votes to Extend Government Funding, Delay Implementation of Harmful OMB Rule Impacting Federal Grants for Local Entities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted to pass the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6500, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027. This bill extends government funding through December 11, 2026.

The Senate-amended version of this bill closed a loophole that allowed the Trump administration to continue providing additional funding to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without additional transparency or accountability measures. Rep. Sykes voted against the Republican-led House of Representatives version of this bill in July because it lacked important safeguards against additional funding for CBP and ICE without accountability measures.

Additionally, this amended continuing resolution delays the implementation of a harmful proposed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule that would allow the Trump administration to discriminate against federal grant awardees based on their political affiliations or beliefs. This proposed rule is delayed until December 11, 2026 with the passage of this legislation.

"With the amendments made by the Senate, I voted to support this temporary government funding bill that extends federal funding through December 11, 2026," said Rep. Sykes. "The amended legislation blocks additional funding for ICE and CBP without the implementation of safeguards or accountability measures. It also delays the implementation of an egregious proposed rule that would allow the Trump administration to discriminate against federal grantees based on politics and reward their supporters at the expense of American cities and nonprofits. Federal funding should not be allocated based on political beliefs; Congress must block the implementation of this proposed rule that violates American's first amendment rights before the December 11 deadline."

This bill has passed both the House and the Senate. It now goes to President Trump to be signed into law.

Previously, Rep. Sykes joined three letters opposing the proposed OMB rule that would give the Trump administration unprecedented authority over federal grants nationwide. Federal grants support communities throughout Ohio's 13th Congressional District, helping fund research, local initiatives, and programs that serve residents across the region. Rep. Sykes will continue working to protect a grantmaking process where decisions are based on merit and the value a project brings to communities, not political considerations.

The Democratic Women's Caucus letter can be found here.

The House Oversight Committee Democrats' letter can be found here.

The House Democrats' letter to the Office of Management and Budget opposing the proposed rule can be found here.