July 11, 2025
With President Trump’s signing of the FY 2025 budget reconciliation package—formally titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—Congress has shifted its focus to the FY 2026 appropriations process. Lawmakers must pass all twelve annual appropriations bills by September 30 to avoid a government shutdown, as the current continuing resolution (CR), in place since October 2024, is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year.
Progress began in the Senate on July 9 with initial consideration of the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill, which funds the Department of Justice and other key agencies. However, plans to advance the bill stalled during the July 10 Senate Appropriations Committee markup. A disagreement over an amendment related to the location of the new FBI headquarters led to the bill being withdrawn, despite initial bipartisan support. The amendment, which would restrict funding to a previously selected site in Maryland, triggered a shift in support among committee members and ultimately prevented the bill from moving forward. Committee leaders indicated that further discussions are needed to resolve the issue, and a revised markup is expected in the coming weeks.
The CJS bill is seen as an early test of the broader appropriations process, and its delay underscores the challenges ahead as Congress works to meet the September 30 deadline.
IACP Releases Counter-UAS Policy Fact Sheet:
IACP has released a new policy fact sheet on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Threats and Mitigation. This resource outlines the urgent need for congressional action to authorize state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) agencies to address malicious drone activity. The fact sheet highlights the legal barriers that currently prevent SLTT agencies from deploying drone detection and mitigation tools. It also provides key legislative and regulatory recommendations to close these critical gaps. You can access the full fact sheet by clicking here.
IACP and IAFC Advocate for FirstNet Preservation:
This week, IACP and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) issued a joint statement reaffirming their strong support for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). The statement urges Congress to eliminate the current 2027 sunset date and preserve the federal authority behind FirstNet, which has become a cornerstone of modern public safety communications.
You can read the joint statement on FirstNet by clicking here.
Congress on the Calendar
House Homeland Security Subcommittee Hearing | July 15, 2025 – 10:00 a.m. Surveillance, Sabotage, and Strikes: Industry Perspectives on How Drone Warfare Abroad Is Transforming Threats at Home Location: 310 Cannon Bldg. | Link to Watch
Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing | July 15, 2025 – 10:15 a.m. Beyond the Smash and Grab: Criminal Networks and Organized Theft Location: 216 Hart Bldg. | Link to Watch
House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing | July 16, 2025 – 10:00 a.m. Artificial Intelligence and Criminal Exploitation: A New Era of Risk Location: 2141 Rayburn Bldg. | Link to Watch
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing | July 16, 2025 – 2:30 p.m. Too Big to Prosecute?: Examining the AI Industry’s Mass Ingestion of Copyrighted Works for AI Training Location: 226 Dirksen Bldg. | Link to Watch
House Appropriations Full Committee Markup | July 16, 2025 – 6:00 p.m. FY 2026 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Bill Location: 2359 Rayburn Bldg. | Link to Watch
Grant Opportunities
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is anticipated to open its FY 2026 grant programs by the end of this month. Once released, IACP will notify members in the following Legislative Update once they become available. For more information and to explore past program offerings, visit the OJP Grants Page.
IACP remains committed to ensuring the voice of the policing profession is heard at the highest levels of government. IACP’s advocacy is grounded in the needs of those serving on the front lines. We will continue to keep you informed as advocacy efforts progress and new opportunities arise. If you have any questions about IACP’s advocacy efforts or would like to connect further, please contact IACP’s Legislative Affairs team at legaffairs@theiacp.org.
Past legislative Updates
- Federal Funding Outlook Following the End of the Government Shutdown
- U.S. Government Shutdown Continues
- IACP Launches Federal Legislative Tracker and Provides Government Shutdown Updates
- Federal Budget Outlook Ahead of September Update
- Congress Returns: FY 26 Funding on Deck
- August Recess Update
