U.S. House of Representatives

Rule Changes

Under scrutiny for P540B in budget insertions and leadership turnover

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a $115 billion budget on January 5, 2026, while vetoing $1.6 billion in unprogrammed appropriations—slashing discretionary funds to their lowest level since 2019. The move follows months of scandal after former lawmaker Zaldy Co admitted to inserting $1.69 billion in phantom flood control projects into the 2025 budget, implicating Marcos's own cousin, then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in an alleged kickback scheme. Co remains at large abroad while seven of sixteen co-accused in the first criminal case are now in custody. In early January 2026, eight DPWH officials pleaded not guilty at their Sandiganbayan arraignment for graft charges over a $4.9 million ghost project.

Updated Jan 5

Rule Changes

Originated the FY2026 NDAA and defense appropriations aligned closely with Trump’s topline and culture-war priorities

In December 2025, Congress completed work on the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing a record $901 billion in national security spending. The House passed the final compromise 312–112 on December 10, and President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on December 18 in a low-profile move without an Oval Office ceremony. The enacted package cements a 4% pay raise for service members, provides $800 million for Ukraine over two years through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), advances Trump priorities such as eliminating Pentagon DEI programs and supporting the “Golden Dome” missile-defense effort, and retains policy riders that helped drive intra-party and bipartisan friction.

Updated Dec 20, 2025