Senate Bill Funding Science and Climate Research Stalled Over FBI Headquarters Dispute

The Senate Appropriations Committee has encountered a significant delay in advancing the fiscal 2026 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) bill due to a dispute over an amendment concerning the location of the FBI's future headquarters. This impasse has halted progress on the bill, which is crucial for funding federal climate research, weather forecasting, and other scientific programs. The amendment has caused the committee to recess indefinitely, delaying action on the CJS bill until next week at the earliest. Despite this setback, other spending bills, such as those for Agriculture and the Legislative Branch, advanced with bipartisan support. Senator Susan Collins, the Appropriations Chair, expressed frustration, stating that one issue should not derail a bill that had broad support. The delay raises concerns about the timely allocation of funds for essential programs, including NOAA, the National Weather Service, the National Science Foundation, and NASA. The situation underscores the challenges of legislative negotiations, where unrelated issues can impact the progress of critical funding measures.

Published: 7/11/2025