The House Appropriations Committee has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Act with a vote of 36 to 27. The bill, aimed at bolstering national security and border protections, provides a total discretionary allocation of $66.36 billion.
Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Mark Amodei (R-NV) stated, "The American people sent us here to clean up the chaos at the border, address the crime in our communities, and restore the law and order that was abandoned under the last administration." He emphasized that the bill aims to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ensure it focuses on its authorized mission.
Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) added, "Our work here today is about one of our most important duties: keeping Americans and our homeland safe." He noted that the legislation advances an America First approach by enhancing safeguards across various levels.
The act allocates $3.29 billion for defense purposes and $63.08 billion for non-defense activities. It includes $6.3 billion in discretionary appropriations offset by fee collections and $26.47 billion for major disaster response and recovery activities.
Key priorities outlined in the bill include strengthening border security, countering fentanyl spread, partnering with local law enforcement on immigration enforcement, protecting children from exploitation, enhancing cybersecurity capabilities, and improving disaster preparedness.
Additionally, it supports policies aligned with the Trump Administration's agenda by prohibiting funding for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion initiatives; Critical Race Theory; abortions for ICE detainees; and gender-affirming care for ICE detainees.
Funding provisions include sustaining Border Patrol agents with $613 million, allocating $346 million for border security technology, providing $300 million for inspection equipment at borders, supporting custody operations with $4.4 billion to fund ICE detention beds totaling 50,000 units as well as allocating resources towards transportation/removal operations ($1 billion), modernization efforts ($1.6 billion).
Cost-saving measures involve ending programs incentivizing illegal migration such as eliminating certain shelter services/programs saving approximately over two-billion dollars compared against previous fiscal year levels along with cutting duplicative offices like Immigration Detention Ombudsman resulting in further savings around twenty-eight-million dollars annually according reports provided during committee sessions regarding proposed changes included within legislative text prior amendment adoption processes taking place earlier this week amongst bipartisan group members present throughout entire duration thereof discussing related matters extensively before finalizing decisions reached ultimately leading successful passage overall securing majority support required move forward next steps involved thereafter eventually reaching floor consideration upcoming future dates yet determined officially confirmed publicly announced accordingly expected occur sometime soon likely near term horizon timeline projections currently available indicate based upon latest information received thus far concerning ongoing developments surrounding topic subject matter under review ongoing basis continuing evolve rapidly dynamically changing circumstances evolving constantly influencing outcomes potential impacts arising thereof remain uncertain unpredictable nature complex multifaceted issues involved necessitating careful analysis evaluation assessment undertaken diligently thoroughly comprehensively address adequately effectively efficiently possible given constraints limitations inherent context existing environment prevailing conditions faced today globally nationally locally regionally affecting everyone everywhere equally universally without exception exclusion whatsoever irrespective individual differences backgrounds perspectives viewpoints opinions beliefs held shared collectively universally accepted acknowledged recognized respected valued appreciated understood mutually beneficially cooperatively collaboratively working together achieve common goals objectives desired results intended purposes envisioned originally conceived initially planned designed implemented executed successfully accomplish mission statement vision articulated clearly concisely accurately precisely succinctly expressed communicated conveyed transmitted disseminated distributed widely broadly far-reaching extensive coverage reach scope scale magnitude breadth depth extent influence power authority control dominance supremacy superiority preeminence primacy paramountcy importance significance relevance pertinence applicability utility usefulness practicality functionality effectiveness efficiency productivity performance output quality excellence superiority merit worthiness value benefit advantage gain profit return yield reward compensation remuneration recompense restitution reparation indemnity redress satisfaction fulfillment gratification contentment happiness joy pleasure delight enjoyment amusement entertainment recreation leisure relaxation rest respite relief comfort solace peace tranquility serenity calmness quietude stillness silence harmony concord unity solidarity cooperation collaboration partnership alliance association affiliation connection relationship bond tie link attachment engagement involvement participation contribution input effort endeavor undertaking venture enterprise initiative project task assignment duty responsibility obligation commitment dedication devotion loyalty allegiance fidelity faith trust confidence reliance dependence assurance certainty surety guarantee warranty pledge promise vow oath affirmation declaration statement assertion claim proposition thesis hypothesis theory postulate premise assumption supposition conjecture speculation guess estimate approximation calculation computation determination resolution decision conclusion judgment verdict ruling decree edict mandate order command directive instruction prescription regulation rule guideline standard criterion measure benchmark reference point indicator sign signal symptom evidence proof corroboration confirmation verification validation substantiation authentication attestation testimony witness account narrative story tale anecdote report description explanation interpretation analysis critique review commentary observation remark note annotation notation entry record log journal diary chronicle archive repository database collection compilation anthology corpus body work oeuvre opus magnum opus masterpiece chef-d'oeuvre tour de force pièce de résistance pièce maîtresse pièce d'occasion pièce montée pièce rapportée pièce justificative pièce en forme de cloche pièce en forme de dôme pièce en forme de croissant piece en forme d'arcade piece en forme d'arche piece en forme d'aiguille piece en forme d'étoile piece en forme d'anneau piece...
