Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill, Interim Subcommittee Allocations

2025-06-10

Loading video...

Summary

This meeting of the Appropriations Committee convened to mark up the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2026, and to approve interim subcommittee allocation numbers for the first four bills of the cycle [ 00:21:07-00:21:23 ]

. Discussions centered on critical issues such as veterans' healthcare, military infrastructure, and adherence to constitutional budgetary authority [ 00:21:23-00:21:23 ] [ 00:35:31 ] . The proceedings were characterized by strong partisan divisions, especially concerning policy riders and the administration's influence on federal agencies [ 00:35:31-00:35:31 ] .

Themes

Veterans Affairs Funding and Privatization

The proposed bill allocates over $134 billion in non-defense discretionary funding and $300 billion in mandatory funding to fulfill obligations to veterans, addressing needs such as homelessness, mental health services, and women veterans' care [ 00:25:06-00:25:37 ]

. However, strong opposition was voiced against the bill's perceived push towards VA privatization by transferring significant funding from VA medical services to community care, despite veteran preference for VA facilities [ 00:35:46-00:35:54 ] . Critics argued this aligns with "Project 2025" and would diminish care quality while increasing wait times and costs [ 00:35:46 ] . Concerns were also raised regarding the administration's plan to fire up to 80,000 VA employees, citing personal accounts of veterans and employees affected by these reductions, which were believed to exacerbate service delivery issues [ 00:36:36-00:38:12 ] . Additionally, the bill was criticized for lacking guaranteed funding for the PACT Act's Toxic Exposure Fund, which ensures care for toxic-exposed veterans [ 00:36:23 ] . A compromise was later reached to advance fund the Toxic Exposure Fund for two years .

Military Construction and National Security

The bill faced criticism for underfunding military construction by over $900 million compared to the president's budget request, specifically impacting installation resilience and NATO infrastructure commitments . Members highlighted the lack of dedicated funding to mitigate extreme weather damage to military installations, citing billions in reconstruction costs for bases like Tyndall Air Force Base and Anderson Air Force Base . Concerns were also raised about the inadequate prioritization of the Indo-Pacific theater, with only one MilCon project mentioned, and insufficient funding for NATO infrastructure, which was seen as undermining international alliances [ 06:52:04 ]

. The importance of barracks managers and civilian staff in maintaining quality housing for service members was emphasized, with fears that staffing cuts could worsen already poor living conditions [ 10:05:22-10:05:24 ] .

Budgetary Process and Congressional Authority

Many members expressed frustration over working with incomplete information, as the committee had not yet received a full OMB budget request for FY2026 or final top-line numbers for all 12 bills . The administration's alleged illegal transfer of funds and arbitrary firings were cited as actions that undermine Congress's constitutional "power of the purse" [ 00:38:51-00:39:13 ]

. Several members lamented the departure from traditional bipartisan collaboration on appropriations bills, which they believed would hinder the bill's passage into law . One amendment was proposed to explicitly reaffirm Congress's power of the purse and prevent executive overreach in spending appropriated funds [ 09:30:46-09:31:52 ] .

Specific Policy Riders and Social Issues

The bill's inclusion of "poison pill riders" generated significant debate . One such rider prohibits the VA from implementing rules protecting abortion access and counseling for women veterans, drawing strong opposition from members who argued it restricted fundamental healthcare rights [ 01:49:03 ]

. Another contentious rider undermined the VA's ability to report beneficiaries deemed mentally incapacitated to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), raising concerns about veteran suicide by firearm, which accounts for a high percentage of veteran suicides . An amendment to ensure due process and legal counsel for non-citizen veterans facing deportation was also proposed, highlighting stories of veterans who served honorably but faced removal .

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting exhibited a predominantly partisan tone, despite initial polite welcomes and acknowledgments of past cooperation [ 00:21:59-00:22:09 ]

[ 00:23:19-00:24:02 ] [ 00:35:07-00:35:26 ] . Debates frequently became heated and emotionally charged, particularly when discussing topics such as veteran care, staffing cuts, and policy riders, with members sharing personal anecdotes to underscore their points [ 00:36:36-00:38:29 ] . There was palpable frustration among many members regarding the budgetary process and perceived executive overreach, leading to sharp criticisms of the administration's actions [ 00:38:51-00:39:13 ] . Despite deep disagreements, all speakers reiterated a shared commitment to supporting veterans, even while advocating for vastly different approaches [ 00:24:04-00:24:12 ] [ 00:35:26 ] . The chair commended the "civility" and "professionalism" of the debate, especially given the extended hours .