House Republicans are meeting today with President Trump at the Kennedy Center as committee chairs lay out the conference’s 2026 legislative priorities. The agenda includes a potential party-line bill — the administration says it is "open to" one — and a three-bill bipartisan appropriations package the Rules Committee is set to advance. While that package appears likely to pass despite higher spending than the White House requested, lawmakers still must approve a short-term funding measure or additional appropriations to avoid a government shutdown at month-end.
House Republicans Convene With Trump to Shape 2026 Agenda as Funding Deadline Looms
House Republicans will meet with President Donald Trump today for an all-day policy forum at the Kennedy Center, according to an agenda shared with Semafor. Committee chairs are expected to brief the conference on their priorities as leaders outline the party’s legislative goals for 2026.
The agenda includes the prospect of another party-line bill — which a senior White House aide told Semafor the administration is "open to" — and a package of three bipartisan appropriations bills released Monday. The House Rules Committee is set to advance that package Tuesday night.
Passage of the bipartisan appropriations package is considered likely: although it would authorize more spending than the president requested, several fiscal hardliners have signaled support. Even if those bills pass, lawmakers still must approve either a short-term continuing resolution or additional appropriations before the end of the month to avoid a government shutdown, creating an urgent timeline for the conference.
Why This Matters
The forum is an opportunity for Republican leaders to present a unified agenda going into 2026 and to set expectations for committee work and floor strategy. Funding decisions in the coming days will determine whether federal agencies remain funded without interruption and will shape talks with the Senate and the White House.
Next Steps: The House Rules Committee will likely advance the three appropriations bills Tuesday night; the full House will then need to vote on those measures and on a short-term funding fix to avert a month-end shutdown.
Help us improve.
