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You are here: Home / Legislation / National Security Legislative Calendar

National Security Legislative Calendar

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May 5, 2025 Update

 

[New information bolded and italicized]

As difficult as it has been for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to pass bills through a narrowly divided House, the month of May will be especially challenging. Reconciliation remains top of the list and House committees have been marking up their portions of the larger bill.

The House Armed Services Committee backed the additional military spending proposed by President Donald Trump of $150 billion by a 35-21 vote after a series of more than 20 Democratic amendments targeting the administration’s plan. Five Democrats sided with Republicans on the final vote to increase Pentagon spending: Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Don Davis (D-NC), George Whitesides (D-CA) and Eugene Vindman (D-VA).

The major challenge facing Republicans in both the House and Senate is the opposition to the very deep cuts in Medicaid and programs that would significantly impact constituents in both red and blue districts. There are also GOP divisions on how much to increase the U.S. debt ceiling, with hardline conservatives pressing for deeper cuts in domestic spending.

Speaker Johnson’s goal of having this reconciliation bill complete by Memorial Day has already largely been scrapped. July 4 looks to be the new goal.

Moving onto Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026), President Trump submitted the outline of his budget on Friday, often referred to as a “skinny” budget in Washington parlance. Though “skinny” on detail, there is no shortage of insight to be gained into this president’s plans. President Trump’s budget would cut $163 billion from non-defense discretionary spending, a near 23% reduction, bringing it down to roughly $557 billion. He would increase national security spending by $1.01 trillion for the next fiscal year, including the $150 billion allocated via the above-mentioned reconciliation bill. There is also significant funding for the Golden Dome national missile defense system, nuclear weapons modernization and an expansion of naval shipbuilding.

The State Department budget, in contrast, would be slashed by $26.5 billion, including $8.3 billion in U.S. economic and development aid, $6.2 billion from global health spending and ending the United States’ $1.6 billion annual contribution to United Nations peacekeeping missions. Almost as striking as the numbers was the language used that reads more like one of the President’s inflammatory campaign speeches than a budget document, such as “U.S. economic and development aid has been funneled to radical, leftist priorities, including climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and LGBTQ activities around the world.”

It is important to remember that the budget request is largely a political document, and Congress will work to craft the actual spending for FY 2026. However, Congress has been very careful not to run afoul of President Trump so far and it remains to be seen how much legislative leaders will push back this time.

Key Fiscal Year 2026 National Security Bills

Fiscal Year 2025 Continuing Resolution

The House narrowly approved the full year Continuing Resolution (CR) in a 217-213 vote on March 11. The Senate then had three days to avert government shutdown, which House Speaker Mike Johnson hoped would force Senators into action on an unpopular, partisan CR. He got his wish when enough Democrats voted to proceed to a final vote, a step which required 60 votes.

The vote was controversial, with the Democrats’ divisions represented by Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) first saying he would block consideration of the vote and then changing his mind. Ten Democrats and independents voted with the Republicans in favor of cloture, arguing that a shuttered government would provide President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE operation more of an opportunity to fire people, shut down agencies and block the work of the government. On the final 54-46 vote in favor of the measure, only Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Angus King (I-ME) voted in favor with most Republicans. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the only Republican to oppose the bill.

While the bill had few national security provisions, it boosted defense spending by $6 billion while cutting non-defense spending by $13 billion from current levels and shifted $185 million from non-proliferation to weapons programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration. That shift impacts most of the national laboratories and efforts to ensure nuclear materials safety, among other things.

Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Bill

 

Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bills

 

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)

 

Authorization to Use Military Force

 

Aid to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Taiwan

Tentative 2024 Congressional Recess Schedule

*When noted that both the Senate and House are in session, the House and Senate schedules may diverge by a day or two*

April 28 – May 23: Both Senate and House largely in session

May 26: Memorial Day

June 2 – June 27: Both Senate and House largely in session

June 19: Juneteenth federal holiday

July 4: Independence Day federal holiday

July 7 – July 31: Both Senate and House largely in session

August 4 – August 29: Congressional Recess

September 1: Labor Day

September 2 – September 19: Both Senate and House largely in session

September 22 – September 26: Congressional Recess

September 29 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session

October 1 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session

October 13: Columbus Day

November 3 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session

November 10 – November 14: Congressional Recess

November 11: Veterans’ Day

November 17- November 21: Both Senate and House in session

November 24 – November 28: Congressional Recess

November 27: Thanksgiving

December 1- December 19: Both Senate and House largely in session

December 19: Target Congressional adjournment

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