CQ Morning Briefing

Budget reconciliation markups kick off this week. A trio of joint resolutions up for House consideration could depart from precedent. And the Trump administration will cross the 100-day mark this week. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, April 28, 2025.

Rubio plans a makeover for the State Department. An upcoming Supreme Court ruling could expand the HHS secretary's power. Lobbying disclosures surge as lawmakers seek to extend the 2017 tax cuts. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Lawmakers are on recess this week after a jam-packed start to 2025. When they return, they'll have to tackle key legislative priorities – but Trump's influence on a recent vote could indicate a reshuffled approach to spending bills. And Sen. Josh Hawley's evolution on Medicaid epitomizes the potential struggle ahead as the GOP looks to find spending cuts in reconciliation. Jacob Fulton has your CQ...

Lawmakers have started their two-week recess, but when they get back, Republicans will be tasked with writing their reconciliation bill. A key challenge will be how to deal with potential controversial cuts to Medicaid. And some Republicans are also wary of zeroing out certain clean energy incentives. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, April 11, 2025.

House GOP leaders try to push through a budget blueprint after Wednesday's setback. The GOP gets a reprieve as Trump scales back many of his tariffs. A more flexible sort of contracting gets a look ahead of next year’s NDAA. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 10.

rump wants GOP holdouts to "close your eyes and get there" on a revised budget resolution. A Senate subcommittee holds a hearing with a Facebook employee-turned-critic. On the floor, senators vote on several ambassador nominees. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

The House floor could unlock today for action thanks to a compromise related to proxy voting. House GOP leaders look to increase support for the revised budget resolution, which could go before the Rules Committee today. Trump's deadline for China to lift its retaliatory tariffs is today, and a Senate hearing could indicate how some more cautious Republicans might be feeling about it all. Jacob Fu...

Good morning. House leaders hope to adopt a revised budget resolution the Senate OK'd over the weekend. The House is also expected to take up measures that were postponed from last week. And Trump's trade representative testifies twice this week as tariffs roil the markets. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, April 7, 2025.

A "vote-a-rama" on the budget resolution is set to begin — but a slow-rolled procedural vote raises potential concerns. Republican senators release bills that would limit Trump's tariff abilities. And an inspector general investigates the Defense secretary's use of a controversial Signal group chat. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, April 4, 2025.

Senate Republicans prepare to act on their newly unveiled compromise budget resolution. A Senate vote previews potential pushback to Trump's latest tariff plan. House Appropriations Republicans reveal their guidelines for fiscal 2026 earmark asks. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Senate Republicans prepare to dodge concerns about a "current-policy baseline" in reconciliation. GOP leaders dismiss the House for the week as their push to kill a proxy-voting proposal is stymied. The Supreme Court hears a case on the ability of states to make Medicaid participation decisions. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

Senate Republicans prepare for a vote-a-rama on a compromise budget resolution. A Senate committee votes on the nomination of Trump's pick to lead the Social Security Administration. Senate Democrats want the GOP on the record regarding the emergency declaration that led to tariffs on Canada. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Trump's pick to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff is going before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week. Trump throws his support behind a D.C. budget fix, with the ball in Speaker Johnson's court. And Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy heads to the Hill to pitch Trump's infrastructure goals. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, March 31, 2025.

Senate Republicans push forward on a revised budget resolution as House GOP tax writers continue their own work. Conservatives focus on attacking Planned Parenthood ahead of Supreme Court oral arguments next week. And Trump's withdrawal of Elise Stefanik's nomination for U.N. ambassador will reboot the confirmation process. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, March 28, 2025.

The Senate could put a compromise budget resolution on the floor as soon as next week. A CBO debt limit prediction gives lawmakers a clearer timeline for increase talks. Members of both parties push back on the administration's defense of a Signal group chat. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 27, 2025.

House and Senate Republican leaders feel more optimistic about budget resolution talks. Republicans plan to act on a bill to restrict federal district courts' ability to impose nationwide injunctions. Intelligence leaders testify before lawmakers again today, this time at a House panel, as some leaders promise further scrutiny.

Amid controversy over a reported Signal chat, some intelligence leaders appear at a previously scheduled Senate hearing. The Senate Finance Committee weighs in on the nomination of Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A House Appropriations subcommittee holds a hearing about Capitol complex security. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 25, 2025...

Republicans enter a key period for reconciliation talks. The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case about race in redistricting. And lawmakers weigh air transportation improvement efforts ahead of a panel's hearing on the Potomac collision earlier this year. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, March 24, 2025.

Republicans want to bring back earmarks — but there could be some difficulties. Innovation will be a focus for lawmakers as they discuss the next NDAA, according to a key House Republican. Some House Republicans mull impeaching federal judges based solely on their rulings. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Senate Democrats could allow a stopgap they largely dislike to advance. CMS administrator nominee Mehmet Oz goes before the Senate Finance Committee for a hearing. House Democrats wrap up their annual policy retreat. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, March 14, 2025.

Senate Democrats declare opposition to the House stopgap. GOP defense hawks look to boost Pentagon funding through reconciliation if the CR clears. We run through some of the latest updates related to the Department of Government Efficiency. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 13.

The Senate is up next for government funding action on the House-passed continuing resolution. Senate Republicans prepare to make budget reconciliation decisions after next week's recess. Ukraine readies for a potential ceasefire deal negotiated by the Trump administration.

House GOP leaders bring their stopgap spending bill to the floor. Thanks to inflation, defense spending would effectively be cut under the CR. Trump would likely face bipartisan opposition to significant rollbacks of Russia sanctions. Jacob Fulton has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Lawmakers await the expected release of a long-term CR. Federal firings and program cuts continue to cause consternation. And Democrats hope to revive a package of health care "extenders." David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, March 7, 2025.

Appropriators near agreement on a fiscal 2025 topline, but it may not matter. A deputy secretary at Homeland Security could be confirmed today. And a key House Republican says the 2017 tax cuts could be extended eight or nine years. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 6, 2025.