Congress Advances FY26 Spending Bills With Modest Cuts Against Trump Blueprint

President Trump’s tax reform bill, dubbed the "big beautiful bill," includes various provisions rolling out through 2028, such as tax exemptions for tips and overtime, new food assistance work requirements, and Medicaid reforms. Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Claudia Tenney, are advancing legislation like the "Better Straws Act" to codify Trump’s executive order banning federally mandated paper straws, pushing back against previous climate policies favoring single-use plastics. In Congress, spending bills for fiscal 2026 are progressing with bipartisan support in the Senate but face partisan divides in the House, where Republicans propose significant staffing cuts in federal agencies to align with Trump’s budget priorities. House Republicans have targeted funding reductions and workforce cuts in agencies like HUD and the FBI, although some priority funding, such as for air traffic controllers, remains bipartisan. Meanwhile, at the state level, Pennsylvania’s House passed a new budget after delays, with Republicans expressing concerns over spending levels and advocating for energy deregulation and social safety net integrity, while Democrats highlight budget adjustments and fiscal reserves. These developments reflect ongoing debates over fiscal policy, regulatory approaches, and government spending under President Trump’s administration and Republican congressional leadership.