Edwards Votes to Advance FY2026 Funding Bills to Cut Waste and Strengthen National Security

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) voted to advance the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) FY2026 funding bills, cutting wasteful spending, strengthening accountability, and reinforcing U.S. national security.

The package keeps FY2026 spending nearly $10 billion below current continuing spending levels, restoring fiscal discipline and delivering meaningful savings for taxpayers.

The FSGG Appropriations bill provides $26.5 billion in discretionary funding to modernize federal operations, protect constitutional freedoms, and strengthen oversight of federal agencies. Within this package, Congressman Edwards authored two amendments to hold the U.S. Postal Service accountable for delayed post office reopenings in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.

These provisions:

• Direct the U.S. Postal Service to report to Congress within 90 days on plans to reopen and reestablish postal services in Western North Carolina.
• Require the USPS Office of Inspector General to submit a plan within 90 days detailing how post offices closed due to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina will be reopened.

Additionally, as Co-Chair of the NSRP Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman Edwards helped lead the passage of the NSRP Appropriations bill, which provides $50.014 billion in discretionary funding - a 16 percent reduction from FY2025 levels.

This legislation:

• Prioritizes funding and policies to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the U.S. to help save American lives and prohibits funds for programs that facilitate or encourage illegal immigration at our southern border.
• Supports our allies by providing no less than $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing Program funds to Israel and $300 million for the Foreign Military Financing Program for Taiwan.
• Eliminates wasteful spending on DEI, woke programming, climate change mandates, and divisive gender ideologies.
• Deters the Communist People's Republic of China (PRC) aggression by investing $1.8 billion for U.S. national security interests in the Indo-Pacific and fully funds the Countering PRC influence Fund.

"My focus is on making sure federal resources are managed responsibly and deliver real results for the people of Western North Carolina," said Congressman Edwards. "These bills take important steps in that direction by strengthening accountability in federal agencies, supporting national security, and ensuring that communities, like those still recovering from Hurricane Helene, receive the attention and services they need."

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