AASCU Federal Highlights – December 2025

FY26 Appropriations Update

This week, the Senate is aiming to advance a fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations minibus that includes the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill, along with the Defense, Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Interior- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) bills. Senate leaders continue to work on resolving objections, or "holds," by Senators to moving forward, with Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) reporting that all GOP holds have been listed, but Democratic holds remain. While Senate leadership has expressed optimism about floor action today, further steps are still pending. Even if the Senate advances the package, it does not reflect a bicameral agreement, as House appropriators have not signed off, and broader negotiations on overall spending levels between the House and Senate have yet to begin. AASCU will continue to keep you updated on this process in the new year.