Senate Passes FY26 Funding Package as Lankford Secures Key Oklahoma Priorities and Advances Majority of Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON, DC - US Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement after the Senate passed appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026 that fund Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Transportation and Housing and Urban Development; Financial Services and General Government; National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, and continuing appropriations for two weeks for the Department of Homeland Security. With this package, Congress has now advanced the majority of the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills, six of which have already been signed into law, providing stability for federal agencies, decreasing overall discretionary spending, and securing important priorities for Oklahoma.

"For the first time in years, Congress has moved toward regular order thanks to Republican leadership," said Lankford. "We've taken up appropriations bills, debated them, and done the hard work of governing. That approach has delivered real results. Through these bills, I've worked to reform pharmacy benefit managers, address the growing threat of contraband cellphones in prisons, fund critical Army Corps of Engineers projects across Oklahoma, prioritize developing critical minerals here in the United States, direct law enforcement to take a harder look at illegal marijuana growing operations tied to foreign nationals, and more. This is what steady, systematic legislating looks like, and it's how we get better outcomes for the country."

Background

You can learn more about Lankford's work to secure Oklahoma priorities and strengthen fiscal responsibility in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills below:

Public Safety and Law Enforcement

• Contraband Cell Phones in Prisons: New directives urge the Federal Communications Commission to brief Appropriation Committees on legal, technical, and operational issues with contraband cell phone interdiction including, micro-jammers and other technologies, and to assess its authority to allow their use at state prisons.
• Illegal Marijuana Grow Ops Tied to Foreign Nationals: DOJ is directed to report on illegal marijuana operations linked to Chinese nationals or other foreign nationals, targeting transnational threats and protecting rural communities.
• Tribal Law Enforcement and McGirt Support: Federal support continues for law enforcement needs in McGirt-affected jurisdictions, along with oversight mechanisms to ensure DOJ resources are aligned with caseload realities in Oklahoma.
• Toxicology Data Eligibility and Drug Testing Eligibility: Includes provisions allowing for toxicology-related and drug testing activities to qualify for federal highway safety grants administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Energy and Critical Minerals

• Domestic Critical Minerals Development: Appropriations language directs the Department of Energy to prioritize projects that expand American domestic supply of critical minerals.
• Strategic Petroleum Reserve Refill Plan: Legislation directs the Department of Energy to work with American producers to develop a clear plan to replenish the SPR.

Infrastructure and Army Corps of Engineers Projects

• Oklahoma Water Infrastructure: Funding is secured for key Army Corps maintenance and modernization projects in Oklahoma, ensuring flood protection and water access remain strong.
• FAA and Aviation: The bill boosts FAA operations and facilities, blocks the construction of a second FAA Academy outside of Oklahoma, and supports expanded controller training, protecting national airspace safety and Oklahoma's role in it.

Healthcare and Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform

• Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform: Lankford's push to improve transparency in prescription drug pricing and rein in middlemen is reflected in appropriations language promoting competition and oversight.
• Maintains the Hyde Amendment and other pro-life provisions: Appropriations language protects conscience protections for healthcare providers, prohibitions on the creation or destruction of human embryos for research, no new funding for Title X, and continues protections against the use of Title X funds for abortions.

Defense, Foreign Policy, and Religious Freedom

• Safeguards the E-7 Wedgetail Program: Includes a provision that prohibits the use of funds to pause, cancel, or terminate the E-7, which is critical for Oklahoma and the Air Force.
• Support for Religious Freedom Protections: Includes increased support for religious freedom programs and demands religious freedom protections for faith-based organizations.
• Expanding the Abraham Accords: Directs the Secretary of State to submit a strategy within 90 days to expand the historic Abraham Accords, including plans for conventional arms transfers and other defense cooperation with signatory nations.

Lankford supported the previous appropriations measures that have already been enacted into law, funding the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Interior, Commerce, and Energy, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, water infrastructure programs, federal science initiatives, the Food and Drug Administration, and the operations of Congress.

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