budget

U.S. Health and Human Services Department Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was on Capitol Hill Thursday for hearings about his department’s 2026 budget. He argued with U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-5) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) while he was there.

Connecticut Democrats have offered a $55.5 billion two-year budget plan. It spends millions of dollars more than Gov. Ned Lamont's plan submitted to lawmakers in February.

Connecticut Treasurer Erick Russell raised concerns in Washington, D.C. about potential Medicaid and Medicare cuts in a funding bill passed by the House.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Republican budget resolution, which passed the U.S. House 217-215 with one Republican defection, will “gut health care and give tax breaks to the super-wealthy.”

Research on gun violence prevention, funded by $125 million from the federal government since 2020, could end if the Trump administration and Republicans cut Medicaid funding in upcoming budget negotiations, according to U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).

Suffolk County lawmakers are hashing out details for a spending plan ahead of next month’s vote on a proposed $4 billion budget. Over half that amount is earmarked for the county workforce's salaries and benefits.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine has proposed a $4 billion budget for 2025 to address staffing shortages, enhance the county’s cybersecurity and information technology infrastructure, manage rising health care costs and hire additional police officers.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved a $19.3 billion budget for next year for several projects to improve transportation along the Long Island Rail Road.

The budget increases spending by about 5%, and was the final proposal from outgoing Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said he is prepared for a tough budget fight as he returns to Washington this week. The U.S. Senate expects to vote on a short-term spending bill this month to avoid an October government shutdown.