Capitol Hill accelerates a $95B budget plan amid GOP defense surge and high-profile confirmations

Capitol Hill is advancing a $95 billion, party-line budget framework via reconciliation to fund defense, farm aid, and election-security measures, while GOP leaders seek offsets and swift votes ahead of the August recess. Simultaneously, a slate of high-profile hearings and confirmations—Todd Blanche for attorney general and Erica Schwartz for the CDC—intensify debates over DOJ independence, vaccine policy, and scientific integrity, as Democrats press for oversight on Epstein-related disclosures and Republicans push broader policy agendas like Israel aid and crypto regulation.