Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2027
- Sponsor
- Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
- Committees
- Appropriations Committee
- Last action
- Apr 24, 2026
Bottom line
This bill funds key government operations for FY2027 while imposing significant policy restrictions on federal agencies and the District of Columbia, reflecting a conservative legislative agenda.
What it actually does
H.R. 8495 is an appropriations bill for Financial Services and General Government for fiscal year 2027. It allocates funding to various federal agencies including the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and numerous independent agencies. Beyond funding, the bill includes numerous policy riders and general provisions that restrict agency actions, modify existing laws, and impose new requirements on federal operations and the District of Columbia.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that the bill provides essential funding for critical government functions, ensures fiscal responsibility through specific spending allocations, and implements important policy reforms to curb government overreach, promote transparency, and protect individual liberties. They would highlight provisions that limit regulatory actions, prevent funding for certain initiatives deemed inappropriate, and ensure accountability in federal spending and operations.
Opponents contend
Opponents would contend that the bill underfunds crucial government services, particularly in areas like taxpayer services and certain regulatory bodies, potentially hindering their effectiveness. They would also criticize the numerous policy riders as extraneous legislative items that are not subject to proper debate and are designed to advance a partisan agenda, potentially undermining agency missions and civil liberties.
The bill is extensive and highly complex, requiring significant time to read and understand its numerous appropriations lines and detailed policy provisions. Given the typical rapid pace of legislative consideration for omnibus appropriations, the time available for thorough public and congressional review is likely insufficient.
Title I, Departmental Offices, Salaries and Expenses
Department of the Treasury Departmental Offices Funding
This provision appropriates $240,774,000 for the Departmental Offices of the Treasury, covering operations, maintenance, international affairs, economic policy, and Treasury-wide management. It includes specific allocations for official reception and representation, unforeseen emergencies, and funds available until September 30, 2028, for financial statement audits, IT modernization, Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund oversight, cybersecurity, facilities, and international operations.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this funding is essential for the Treasury Department to maintain its critical functions, including economic policy development, international financial engagement, and internal oversight, ensuring stability and security of the financial system.
Critics contend
Critics might argue that certain allocations, such as for official reception, could be reduced, or that the overall funding level is either too high or too low depending on specific policy priorities.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the need for robust departmental operations with fiscal constraints, allocating funds across diverse functions within the Treasury.
Title I, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Salaries and Expenses
Funding for Combating Illicit Finance and Human Rights Violations
This section appropriates $237,662,000 for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) to combat illicit financial activities and national security threats. It specifically directs not less than $3,000,000 for addressing human rights violations and corruption, and $500,000 for testing AI/machine learning to strengthen sanctions enforcement and detect foreign malign economic influence.
Title I, Internal Revenue Service, Taxpayer Services
Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer Services Funding
This provision allocates $3,036,606,000 for IRS taxpayer services, including pre-filing assistance, filing and account services, and taxpayer advocacy. It specifies not less than $12,000,000 for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program, $28,000,000 for low-income taxpayer clinic grants, and $46,000,000 for the Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Matching Grants Program.
Title I, Internal Revenue Service, Enforcement
Internal Revenue Service Enforcement Funding
This section appropriates $3,600,006,000 for IRS tax enforcement activities, including determining and collecting owed taxes, legal support, criminal investigations, and enforcing financial crime statutes. It earmarks not less than $65,257,000 for the Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement program and up to $35,000,000 for investigative technology for the Criminal Investigation Division.
Title I, Administrative Provisions--Internal Revenue Service, Sec. 113
Prohibition on Free Electronic Return-Filing Service
This provision prohibits the use of funds to develop or provide taxpayers a free, public electronic return-filing service option without prior approval from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, House Ways and Means Committee, and Senate Finance Committee.
Title I, Administrative Provisions--Department of the Treasury, Sec. 136
Prohibition on Central Bank Digital Currency Development
This section prohibits the Department of the Treasury from using funds to advise, study, design, build, or develop a United States Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or to participate in any decision to discontinue the circulation or use of paper currency as legal tender.
Title II, The White House, Salaries and Expenses
White House Operations Funding
This provision appropriates $78,904,000 for the necessary expenses of the White House, including services, subsistence, motor vehicle hire, and official reception and representation expenses. It also covers the Office of Policy Development.
Title II, Office of Management and Budget, Salaries and Expenses
Office of Management and Budget Funding and Restrictions
This section appropriates $129,000,000 for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It includes several provisos restricting OMB's activities, such as prohibiting review of agricultural marketing orders, altering witness testimony transcripts (except OMB officials), altering Corps of Engineers work plans, or evaluating water resource project compliance. It also sets a 60-day limit for budgetary policy reviews of water resource matters.
Title III, Supreme Court of the United States, Salaries and Expenses
Supreme Court Operations Funding
This provision appropriates $207,039,000 for the operation of the Supreme Court, excluding building and grounds care. It covers expenses such as motor vehicle purchase/hire, official reception, and miscellaneous expenses, with $1,500,000 remaining available until expended. It also includes sums for the salaries of the Chief Justice and Associate Justices.
Title III, Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services, Salaries and Expenses
Federal Judiciary Salaries and Expenses
This section appropriates $6,439,018,000 for the salaries of judges (excluding Supreme Court, Circuit, and District Judges whose salaries are separately appropriated by current law), magistrate judges, and other federal judiciary officers and employees. It covers necessary court expenses, uniforms for Probation and Pretrial Services staff, and includes $27,817,000 for space alteration projects and furnishings.
Title IV, Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia
DC Emergency Planning and Security Costs
This provision provides a Federal payment of $50,000,000 to the District of Columbia for public safety costs related to the presence of the National Capital, including support for the Secret Service and responding to terrorist threats. The Mayor, in consultation with surrounding jurisdictions, determines necessary expenses.
Title IV, Federal Payment for School Improvement
DC School Improvement Program Funding
This provision provides a Federal payment of $52,500,000 for a school improvement program in the District of Columbia, specifically for payments authorized under the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act. Of this, $26,250,000 is for the Opportunity Scholarship Program, $17,500,000 for public charter schools, and $8,750,000 for public schools.
Title V, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Salaries and Expenses
Consumer Product Safety Commission Funding and Restrictions
This section appropriates $142,000,000 for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It includes provisos prohibiting the use of funds to finalize or implement certain safety standards, specifically for Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROVs) and Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs) until studies are completed, to ban gas stoves, or to finalize the table saw safety standard.
Title V, Federal Communications Commission, Salaries and Expenses
Federal Communications Commission Funding and Regulatory Restrictions
This section appropriates $390,192,000 for the FCC, offset by collections, aiming for a net general fund appropriation of $0. It includes provisos prohibiting the FCC from modifying universal service support payments for single connections, implementing the 'Digital Discrimination' rule, or reconfiguring the 902-928 MHz band for high-power terrestrial operations.
Title V, Small Business Administration, Salaries and Expenses
Small Business Administration Funding and Restrictions
This section appropriates $298,099,000 for the Small Business Administration (SBA), including funds for lender oversight and IT systems. It includes provisos prohibiting the SBA from compelling small businesses to comply with section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, funding climate change initiatives, or hiring staff at the DC office until the Coachella Valley satellite office is adequately staffed.
Title VI, General Provisions--This Act, Sec. 635
Prohibition on Critical Race Theory Promotion
This provision prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act for any program, project, or activity that promotes or advances Critical Race Theory (CRT) or any concept associated with it.
Title VI, General Provisions--This Act, Sec. 636
Prohibition on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training
This provision prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training or implementation.
Title VII, General Provisions--Government-Wide, Sec. 747
Executive Pay Freeze
This provision freezes the payable rate for the Vice President, Executive Schedule positions, and certain politically appointed Senior Executive Service (SES) and other employees at their December 31, 2026 levels for calendar year 2027. It includes exceptions for movements to higher-level duties and new appointments, which must still be based on the frozen rates.
Title VII, General Provisions--Government-Wide, Sec. 755
Prohibition on Classifying/Censoring Lawful Speech
This provision prohibits the use of funds to classify or facilitate the classification of any communications by a U.S. person as mis-, dis-, or mal-information, or to partner with/fund organizations that pressure private companies to censor lawful and constitutionally protected speech of U.S. persons, including on social media platforms.
Title VIII, General Provisions--District of Columbia, Sec. 809
Prohibition on Legalizing Schedule I Substances in DC
This provision prohibits the use of Federal funds by the District of Columbia to enact or carry out any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or reduce penalties for possession, use, or distribution of any Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative. It also prohibits the use of any DC government funds for such purposes for recreational use.
Title VIII, General Provisions--District of Columbia, Sec. 820
Repeal of DC Death With Dignity Act
This provision repeals the District of Columbia's Death With Dignity Act of 2016 (D.C. Law 21-182) and amends the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to prohibit the District from enacting any law permitting activities to which the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 applies.
Title VIII, General Provisions--District of Columbia, Sec. 826
Prohibition on Non-Citizen Voting in DC
This provision prohibits the use of funds by the District of Columbia government to implement the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-344) or any activities related to enrolling or registering non-citizens into voter rolls for local elections.
Title VIII, General Provisions--District of Columbia, Sec. 827
Concealed Handgun Carry in DC and WMATA
This provision states that an individual with a valid weapons carry permit from any U.S. state or territory may possess and carry a concealed handgun, magazine, and ammunition in the area governed by the District of Columbia and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Prohibits the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) from using funds until the Secretary of the Treasury finalizes the interim final rule on 'Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirement Revision and Deadline Extension' (90 Fed. Reg. 13688 (Mar. 26, 2025)). It also directs the Secretary to report on the status and use of existing beneficial ownership information within 90 days of enactment.
Title I, Administrative Provisions--Department of the Treasury, Sec. 131
Why it matters:This is a policy rider, often placed in appropriations bills to exert leverage over executive branch regulatory actions. It's a common tactic to force agency compliance with legislative preferences.
Case for: Proponents argue this ensures FinCEN's beneficial ownership reporting requirements are practical and well-considered, preventing undue burden on businesses and ensuring effective implementation. The reporting requirement provides congressional oversight.
Case against: Opponents might argue that delaying the finalization of beneficial ownership rules could hinder efforts to combat illicit finance and money laundering, and that tying agency funding to specific regulatory outcomes undermines agency independence.
Estimated impact: Potentially significant impact on the timeline and scope of beneficial ownership reporting requirements for millions of U.S. entities, affecting transparency in corporate ownership.
Prohibits the use of funds to make new rules that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) finds are 'major rules' as defined by having an annual economic effect of $100,000,000 or more, a major increase in costs/prices, or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, consumer choice, or U.S. competitiveness.
Title VI, General Provisions--This Act, Sec. 644
Why it matters:This is a significant policy rider that imposes a broad restriction on executive branch rulemaking. Placing it in general provisions allows it to apply across many agencies without specific debate on each agency's regulatory authority.
Case for: Proponents argue this provision prevents agencies from imposing economically significant regulations without explicit congressional approval, thereby protecting businesses from undue burdens and fostering economic growth by limiting regulatory costs.
Case against: Opponents contend that this provision severely curtails the ability of federal agencies to address critical public health, safety, environmental, and financial issues through necessary regulations, effectively creating a legislative veto over executive branch expertise and responsibilities.
Estimated impact: Potentially very significant, as it could halt or delay a wide range of new federal regulations across all executive branch agencies that meet the 'major rule' criteria.
Directs each executive branch department or agency to comply with specific Executive Orders, collectively referred to as the 'Making America Great Again provisions,' issued in 2025 and 2026. These EOs cover various policy areas, including regulatory reform, energy, and national security.
Title VII, General Provisions--Government-Wide, Sec. 760
Why it matters:This provision uses a broad reference to a set of Executive Orders to ensure their continued implementation and compliance across the executive branch. It's a tactical maneuver to reinforce a specific administration's policy agenda through an appropriations bill, avoiding detailed debate on each EO's merits.
Case for: Proponents argue that this provision ensures consistent implementation of the President's policy agenda across the federal government, promoting efficiency and alignment with stated national priorities.
Case against: Opponents might argue that this provision uses an appropriations bill to enshrine a specific administration's policy agenda, potentially bypassing normal legislative processes for policy changes and limiting the flexibility of future administrations or agencies.
Estimated impact: Potentially very significant, as it mandates compliance with a broad range of executive orders across the entire executive branch, affecting numerous policy areas from regulatory practices to energy and national security.