Earmarks Make For Strange Bedfellows Among GOP Lawmakers

Earmarks, long derided by some conservative GOP lawmakers, could make a reappearance in a government funding deal this fall.

A diverse coalition of House Republicans from moderate frontliners to fiscal hawks are advocating for the inclusion of earmarks , commonly known as “community project funding,” in the fiscal year 2026 budget. Though conservative GOP lawmakers have traditionally viewed earmarks as synonymous with pork-barrel spending, some fiscal hawks are promoting the congressionally directed spending in an effort to get buy-in from other members of the GOP conference to spend less money overall for the upcoming fiscal year.

Republicans are up against a Sept. 30 deadline to avert a partial government shutdown and fund go

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