FY27 Budget Hearings Offer Endless Opportunities

We are once again in appropriations season, which means that administration leaders face Congress to justify the President’s Budget. For some political appointees, this is the first time they’ve returned since their nomination hearings, and elected officials have questions.

While the goal of the hearings is to learn about the priorities, the questions are generally a free-for-all. This is a chance for both Republicans and Democrats to ask about hometown priorities and voice support (or urge a change in direction) for work that the administration is already doing or would like to accomplish through the President’s Budget. It is also one of the few times for Democrats to conduct oversight.

For stakeholders, this is an excellent time to work with champions on the appropriate committees to think through questions. The key to a good question is to have an answer where the political appointee commits to moving in the right direction. However, note that with every opportunity for a question to be asked comes a risk that the political appointee is now on the record opposing an issue. Another opportunity to engage is the Questions for the Record, which are sent after the hearing. While not as high-profile, it’s a good way to gain insight into what an agency is prioritizing within a program or where funding stands.

Ultimately, this month of back-to-back budget hearings is one of the best ways to understand where departments are prioritizing their staff and funding. It’s a great way to understand leadership-level priorities and where there are opportunities to engage at the administration-level and where to work with Congress on oversight. It can feel like drinking from a fire hose to prepare for and monitor these hearings, but it will pay dividends over the remainder of the year, knowing where the departments are aiming to go.