Watch the recorded webinar for an expert analysis from CQ reporters on potential spending battles ahead — before they begin.
A difficult year just got harder. Congress is kicking off the fiscal 2027 appropriations process on the heels of the longest partial government shutdown in history. The new budget cycle promises to be no easier than the last one — and all indications are that it may be even more difficult.
The fault lines are already forming. President Donald Trump’s plan for a 50 percent increase in defense spending risks widening the federal deficit or forcing large cuts to nondefense spending that many Democrats would oppose. And political tensions that could complicate the process are already high as lawmakers gear up for midterm elections that Democrats hope will shift the balance of power.
Watch the recording as we break it all down. We’ll assess the challenges facing House and Senate appropriators as the new budget season gets underway — the fiscal pressures that must be overcome, the competing interests on Capitol Hill, and the political dynamics that promise to make appropriations particularly challenging.
Topics We’ll Address
- The partisan standoff between defense and nondefense spending – Trump’s push for a major increase in military spending sets up a potential collision with domestic programs — and what that means for the overall budget math.
- How Trump’s priorities will influence the budget process – Where the administration’s fiscal agenda aligns with congressional reality, and where friction points are likely to emerge.
- How the upcoming elections will affect the timing of spending bills – Election-year politics are already influencing how and when spending bills move — and what that means for your work this year.
- The risk of another government shutdown this fall – We’ll assess how real the risk is and what signals to watch as the year unfolds.
Your Expert Panel
- Aidan Quigley, Budget & Appropriations Reporter, CQ Roll Call – Aidan tracks the federal appropriations process from markup through final passage, with previous experience covering defense budgets and acquisition for Inside Defense.
- Aris Folley, Budget & Appropriations Reporter, CQ Roll Call – Aris covers the federal budget and annual appropriations process, with a focus on the political forces driving fiscal decisions on Capitol Hill.
- David Lerman, Budget Team Editor, CQ Roll Call – David edits CQ’s Budget Tracker and hosts the CQ Budget podcast. He previously covered national security and defense spending for Bloomberg News.
Register now to gain valuable insights into the unfolding appropriations process.
