Lawmakers struck an 11th-hour deal with President Trump last week to approve year-long funding for six Cabinet departments that have been operating under a continuing resolution and to approve a short-term funding extension for the Department of Homeland Security that will allow for consideration of new restrictions on immigration enforcement operations.
Democratic leaders have demanded reforms to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency following the deaths of two protesters in January at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis, including AFGE member Alex Pretti. The main reforms are to end roving patrols, create a uniform code of conduct for agents, and require agents to wear body cameras and not cover their faces.
Under the funding agreement, the Senate agreed to approve year-long appropriations bills for the Defense, Labor, Health and Human Servies, Education, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development departments and to extend funding for DHS operations for two weeks to allow for consideration of the Democrat’s proposed reforms.
These agencies have been operating under a continuing resolution since the new fiscal year began Oct. 1. Funding ran out Jan. 30 when the continuing resolution expired, leading to a brief partial shutdown, although the House has agreed to consider the bills once it reconvenes this week.
Appropriations Wins
Congress previously approved year-long funding for about half of the federal government’s operations under separate appropriations bills. Those bills included significant wins for AFGE members, including:
Here are highlights of key appropriations wins for our members at specific agencies:
NDAA Highlights
The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on Dec. 18, authorizes $901 billion for operations under the Department of Defense, nuclear programs under the Department of Energy, and related national security activities.
Here are key highlights in this year’s bill:
Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has issued a series of unlawful executive orders, and taken several unlawful actions, seeking to shut down congressionally mandated agencies, fire and displace federal workers, outlaw their unions, and gut merit systems protections.
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A federal judge has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to reinstate the union contract covering 320,000 VA employees represented by AFGE in a major victory over the implementation of President Trump’s union-busting executive orders.
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As the Department of Homeland Security shutdown reaches the one-month mark with no end in sight, AFGE leaders are calling on Congress to ensure all DHS workers are paid.
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