At a meeting of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) addressed two appropriations bills under consideration. These bills—the Financial Services and General Government bill and the National Security, State Department, and Related Programs bill for Fiscal Year 2026—were combined into a minibus package.
McGovern criticized the delay in passing these spending bills, stating that work could have been completed last year. He noted, “Here we are again—two more spending bills before us that were supposed to be finished last year. I guess Republicans want a pat on the back for finishing up work that could have been done last year. I get that some years it’s hard to make the deadline. But in this case, you could have used the months the Speaker shut down the House at the end of the year to get this done. Floor time availability was not an excuse last year.”
Discussing the contents of the minibus, McGovern highlighted increased funding for election security grants and international humanitarian assistance. He said, “There’s some good things in this minibus. $30 million more for election security grants. $5.5 billion for international humanitarian assistance.” He also pointed out that proposed significant cuts to domestic programs were largely rejected and praised Democratic negotiators for blocking numerous policy riders.
McGovern stated: “In fact, this package largely rejects President Trump’s proposed $163 billion in cuts to domestic programs. And Democratic negotiators successfully blocked more than 80 new extreme MAGA riders that tried to inject culture war garbage into the appropriations process.”
He explained that controversial provisions related to reproductive care, clean energy, humanitarian aid restrictions, and interference with D.C.’s local government were not included in this legislation: “There were poison pills that would have attacked reproductive care. Undermined clean energy. Restricted humanitarian aid. Interfered with D.C. local government. And more. Those riders are not in this bill. And that did not happen by accident.”
McGovern also noted efforts to ensure proper use of congressional authority over federal spending: “And compared to the status quo—this package constrains the administration’s ability to flout the law when it comes to spending money the way Congress intended.”
Turning his attention to recent events involving Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, McGovern addressed reports about an investigation initiated by President Trump: “On Sunday, we learned that the President of the United States is dramatically expanding his weaponization of the Department of Justice—this time by opening an unprecedented investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Someone the President has been bullying, berating, and trying to undermine for months.”
He continued by alleging a pattern of political retaliation through legal actions against various officials: “He publicly demanded an indictment of James Comey. James Comey was indicted… He publicly demanded the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James. She was indicted… He’s prosecuting our colleague LaMonica McIver for conducting constitutionally sanctioned congressional oversight… He demanded Pam Bondi find a reason to investigate Adam Schiff, and poof—like magic, the DOJ launches an investigation into Adam Schiff.”
McGovern argued these investigations are not based on evidence or law but on personal motives: “None of this is about crimes. Or evidence. Or the rule of law.” He warned colleagues about possible repercussions if they remain silent or believe they will be exempt from such actions.
Concluding his remarks he said: “That, my friends, is not democracy. It’s tyranny. And it is at our doorstep knocking to come in. Your silence won’t make it go away. Your silence will make it worse.”
