House Republicans plan to reintroduce earmarks for 2026

House Republican leaders announced plans to bring back earmarks for fiscal 2026 spending bills. This comes after significant cuts were made to local projects in the current fiscal year’s budget. Last weekend, President Trump signed a spending package that eliminated billions from home-state projects. Some stakeholders worry about reversing the austerity measures that have recently been in place. Earmarks often support smaller projects, and their return could increase nondefense spending dramatically. However, many believe it will be difficult to go back to previous levels of funding after such significant cuts in recent spending bills. The continuing resolution for fiscal 2024 removed almost $11 billion from earmarked funds across various agencies. This resulted in steep cuts to essential services, such as housing and infrastructure projects. For example, funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development saw a reduction of $3.3 billion, representing a 49% decrease. Other affected areas include highway infrastructure, clean water initiatives, and health clinic grants. House Appropriations Committee members, including Democrats, expressed concern that these cuts would harm local communities. They also pointed out that the remaining funds might not reflect the needs of blue states. Despite these concerns, some Republican leaders defended the cuts, stating they aim to prevent unnecessary spending. They argue that removing earmarks does not affect the essential operations of programs but merely reduces congressional add-ons meant for specific projects. This situation reflects past legislation where lawmakers similarly eliminated earmarks, focusing instead on national priorities. In 2007, Democrats cut earmarked funds to redirect resources toward military and veterans' health care. However, unlike then, current Republican cuts are directed at nondefense accounts, suggesting any future earmark reinstatement would necessitate substantial increases in domestic spending. The future of earmarks will depend largely on President Trump’s new budget proposal.