As Congress prepares to adjourn for its Memorial Day recess, the outlook for the federal budget remains uncertain, with lawmakers from both parties voicing increasing frustration over delays from the White House.

The fiscal 2026 budget process is in limbo, and with just over four months until the start of the new fiscal year, the absence of detailed plans from the administration is raising fears of a possible government shutdown.

At the heart of the frustration is the lack of a comprehensive budget proposal from the administration.

Although the White House released a preliminary “skinny” budget on May 2 — offering broad outlines of its spending priorities — the more detailed breakdown typically necessary for Congress to begin its appropriations work is still weeks away.

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“Air Force-wide enlisted retention levels continue to meet and, in some AFSCs [Air Force specialty codes], exceed sustainment needs,” the Air Force said.

“These higher retention rates led to more airmen using the SRB program, which is expected to utilize the entire budget for the program for FY25.”

Lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee, which holds the purse strings for most federal agencies, were particularly vocal last week, urging the administration to provide specifics so they can begin the time-consuming process of crafting funding legislation.

“We’re already halfway through the current fiscal year, and we’re flying blind,” said one Republican committee member.

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“It’s very difficult to do our jobs when we don’t even know what the administration’s full requests are for the next year.”

Typically, Congress begins detailed work on the budget shortly after the president’s proposal is submitted — a process that can take six to nine months to complete.

Without that starting point, committee chairs and staffers are left scrambling to coordinate hearings, draft language, and negotiate compromises.

Complicating matters further is ongoing discord over the broader reconciliation budget bill, a critical legislative package that may include tax changes, spending reforms, and adjustments to entitlement programs.

That bill has seen little progress in recent weeks, further clouding the fiscal outlook.

Adding to the pressure is the legislative calendar. Lawmakers have only 10 working weeks scheduled between now and the end of the fiscal year on September 30.

That tight timeline, coupled with ongoing partisan battles, has many on Capitol Hill bracing for the possibility of another stopgap funding measure — or worse, a partial government shutdown.

Despite the lack of clarity from the White House, congressional committees are moving ahead with budget hearings across multiple departments and agencies.

The upcoming week features a packed schedule of testimony and briefings as lawmakers push ahead with whatever information they can gather.

On Monday, May 19, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee will hear from Department of Veterans Affairs officials on software licensing management and the 2026 budget implications.

Tuesday sees a flurry of budget-related activity. The Senate Armed Services Committee will question Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin Jr., and Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman about the Air Force and Space Force’s fiscal 2026 requests.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hear from Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the State Department’s funding needs, with a follow-up hearing later that afternoon in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

House appropriators will also meet Tuesday to gather member priorities for military construction and veterans programs, while another panel will review budget requests from National Guard and Reserve leaders.

Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee will examine nuclear weapons programs, and the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will dig into adaptive programs for disabled veterans.

Wednesday continues the pace with more testimony from Secretary Rubio before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, while Lt. Gen. Paul Stanton will brief the Senate Armed Services Committee on the state of the Defense Information Systems Agency and network improvements.

That evening, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee will review pending legislation, including the much-watched Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act.

Thursday rounds out the week with twin House Foreign Affairs Committee hearings on Sudan and South/Central Asia security challenges, and another Senate Appropriations Committee session focused on Guard and Reserve forces.

As the appropriations wheels slowly begin to turn, the real question is whether the administration can deliver its detailed budget in time for Congress to act responsibly — or if the delays will trigger yet another cycle of crisis budgeting.

With lawmakers heading home for recess, it’s clear that despite the noise of hearings and testimony, the budget process is stuck in neutral.

Whether that changes in the coming weeks may determine not only the fate of fiscal 2026 but also the nation’s confidence in its leaders’ ability to govern effectively.

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