What to Expect from This Week’s Budget Hearings

It’s that time of year again when the administration’s department heads appear before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to testify on the president’s budget. This will be the first time that these leaders have appeared before Congress since their nomination hearings, and there will be much broader questioning than just the budget.

Here are some key themes we expect to dominate the budget hearings:

Immigration enforcement funding is top ask. The administration is seeking substantial increases in funding for immigration enforcement, including a proposed $69 billion for border security to support the hiring of 20,000 new immigration officers and the construction of a 700-mile border wall. Additionally, $110 billion is earmarked for stricter immigration enforcement measures. While cuts were made across domestic spending, immigration will be an area that the Administration will prioritize.

Bipartisan pushback on domestic cuts. The budget proposes significant cuts to non-defense discretionary spending – an overall 22.6% reduction amounting to $163 billion. Programs facing cuts include those related to childcare, disease research, and environmental programs. Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Education, and the National Institutes of Health are among those affected. Expect both sides of the aisle to push back on why the cuts were so extreme.

Questions broader than the budget. Expect questions on tariffs, immigration, workforce cuts, and more as committee members have their first chance to get department heads on record on behalf of President Trump’s more controversial policies.

As former President Biden said, “Don't tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value.” We always gain more insight into agency priorities during these hearings; this year should be no different.