Weekly Update 4/6/2026
Weekly Update 4/6/2026 Capitol Advocacy Partners
President and Administration:
White House releases FY 2027 budget request: The White House on Friday released the president’s fiscal year 2027 “skinny” budget request. This document is merely a proposed budget outline, with details to be released in the coming weeks. Key priorities include:
Department of Justice (DOJ) – $40.8 billion, a $4.7 billion or 13% increase from FY26 enacted level
The budget request emphasizes a “tough on crime” agenda, with investments in law enforcement capacity, immigration enforcement, and violent crime reduction. Funding increases support expanded immigration courts, enhanced FBI operations, and targeted enforcement initiatives….
Understanding the new Executive Order on DEI and its impact on federal contractors: The President signed an Executive Order on March 26, requiring federal agencies by April 25 to insert clauses into contracts that prohibit contractors from engaging in what the administration defines as racially discriminatory DEI activities, including race-based hiring, promotions, and program participation decisions. The order extends to subcontractors and lower-tier partners…Strong showing for the job market in the latest report: The U.S. economy added 178,000 jobs in March. The unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, exceeding economists' expectations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Health care led gains with 76,000 new positions, partly reflecting the return of roughly 32,000 nurses ending a California strike, while manufacturing added 15,000 jobs and construction grew by 26,000. The federal government…
Maine is about to become the first state to ban new data centers: Maine is set to become the first state to freeze large data center construction, following a bill passed by the Democratic-controlled Maine House of Representatives that would pause projects of at least 20 megawatts until November 2027. Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) has expressed support for the moratorium with an exception for a project already planned in the town of Jay. Supporters…
Congress:
House leadership agrees to consider Senate-passed DHS spending bill: Republicans last week struck a deal for the House to pass the previously unanimously approved Senate bill to fully fund DHS minus Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol (ICE). The legislation will likely be considered when Congress returns next week, although House Democratic Leader…
GOP’s ICE funding gambit squeezes Republican agenda: Republicans will reportedly pursue funding immigration enforcement through the budget reconciliation process, aiming to bypass Democrats and quickly restore funding for immigration enforcement. The President set a June 1 deadline for a narrow reconciliation bill focused….
Education:
Black Caucus scholarships discriminate based on race, lawsuit alleges: The American Alliance for Equal Rights filed a lawsuit April 2 in D.C. federal court alleging that the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's CBC Spouses Education Scholarship discriminates by limiting eligibility to Black students in districts represented by caucus members. The scholarship provides between $2,500 and $20,000 in assistance, with approximately 300 of 3,000 annual applicants receiving awards…
Tracker: Education Department programs are moving to new agencies: The Education Department has reached 10 interagency agreements with five Cabinet-level agencies to transfer at least 119 K-12 and higher education programs, according to an Education Week analysis. Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the agreements as…
Oklahoma charter board faces second suit over Jewish school’s rejection: A religious organization filed a lawsuit claiming the denial of its application to open a public charter school is unconstitutional. The suit follows the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board's unanimous rejection in February 2026 of the Ben Gamla…