In a dramatic move that could reshape oversight of federal spending, House Republicans have unveiled a spending bill that would significantly reduce funding for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the nonpartisan entity responsible for monitoring waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government. The proposed cuts were disclosed in the spending bill text released late Sunday.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), is preparing for a markup of the fiscal 2026 budget on Monday evening, with the full committee expected to follow suit on Thursday. The bill outlines a total of $6.7 billion in funding, marking a $51 million decrease from the current fiscal year and sparing Senate-related expenditures.

According to Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the House Appropriations Committee Chair, the bill "puts the American people first," aiming to enhance governance and protect taxpayer money. However, the bill suggests a stark $396.5 million reduction in funding for the GAO, slashing its budget to $415.4 million. This cut represents nearly half of its current operational budget.

The GAO has long been a cornerstone in safeguarding the integrity of federal operations, tasked with investigating any wrongdoing across various agencies. Recent months have seen the GAO at odds with Republican efforts in Congress and pushback from the Trump administration, particularly regarding its independence and the legal weight of its findings. The proposed budget cut is seen by some as an attempt to curtail the GAO's capacity to conduct investigations, including ongoing probes into allegations of the executive branch improperly withholding congressionally approved funds.

Additionally, the bill seeks to strip the GAO of its ability to initiate civil actions against the executive branch concerning the impoundment of funds, a move that has stirred significant concern among watchdog groups and some legislators.

“The GAO’s crucial role in enabling Congressional oversight cannot be overstated," stated Daniel Schuman, executive director of the American Governance Institute. “Independent expert advice is indispensable for a transparent government.”

The Library of Congress is also facing cuts, with funding proposed at $767.6 million, which is both below its current level and the requested amount for FY26. This reduction comes amidst concerns over increasing executive influence over legislative branch agencies.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), the leading Democrat on the legislative branch subcommittee, criticized the bill for failing to protect legislative agencies from executive overreach.

Other significant elements of the bill include a $84.4 million increase in funding for the Capitol Police, bringing their total budget to $891 million. However, the bill maintains a freeze on Congressional member pay that has been in place since 2013 and includes a controversial provision related to gay marriage, barring discrimination based on religious beliefs opposing it.

As the bill moves through committee, debates are expected to intensify, highlighting the ongoing struggle over the scope and funding of the bodies tasked with overseeing government operations and expenditures.