Congress Leaves Capitol Hill for Today's Winter Break, with Plans to Introduce FY26 THUD Spending Bill After Returning in January – Take Action Today!
Dec 19, 2025
Federal lawmakers will leave their offices on Capitol Hill today and return to their home states and districts for the winter break. Both chambers will be back in session January 6; soon after returning, Congressional appropriators are expected to release a final fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending bill for HUD programs as part of a five-bill “minibus” spending package. This package would include the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill that funds HUD’s vital affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs.
A “minibus” refers to a spending package that includes some of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund federal programs and services; an “omnibus” spending package includes all 12 appropriations bills. Lawmakers have until January 30, when current federal funding expires, to finalize an FY26 spending bill for HUD programs.
There is still time for advocates to weigh in with their members of Congress on the importance of increased funding for HUD’s vital affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs. The THUD bill is the best opportunity advocates will have this year to protect federal investments in rental assistance and homelessness services!
Take Action
Use NLIHC’s toolkits and resources to take action on FY26 funding, including by:
- Using NLIHC’s advocacy toolkit, “Opposing Cuts to Federal Investments in Affordable Housing,” to call on Congress to protect and expand affordable housing and homelessness resources, including NLIHC’s priorities:
- Full funding to renew all existing tenant-based voucher contracts, to ensure the people and families who rely on an HCV or EHV to keep a roof over their heads do not lose their assistance. Check out the “EHV Funding Cliff Mobilization Toolkit” for more information, including talking points and resources.
- $4.922 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants (HAG) program, and for HUD to stick to its commitment to a two-year Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Continuum of Care Program.
- $5.7 billion for public housing operations, and at least $5 billion to address public housing capital needs.
- $15 million for the Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP), as provided in the Senate’s spending bill.
- At least $1.3 billion for HUD’s Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program and $150 million for IHBG-Competitive funds, targeted to Tribes with the greatest needs.
The toolkit includes talking points, advocacy materials, engagement ideas, and more resources for advocates to share with their members of Congress about the importance of these vital resources!
- Emailing or calling members’ offices to tell them about the importance of affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources to you, your family, your community, or your work. You can use NLIHC’s Take Action page to look up your member offices, or call or email them directly!
- Sharing stories from those directly impacted by homelessness and housing instability. Storytelling adds emotional weight to your message and can help lawmakers see how their policy decisions impact actual people. Learn about how to tell compelling stories with this resource.
Take action on the CoC NOFO using the National Alliance to End Homelessness’s advocacy link.
National, state, local, Tribal, and territorial organizations can also join over 2,800 organizations on CHCDF’s national letter calling on Congress to support the highest level of funding possible for affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources in FY26.
Visit NLIHC’s Advocacy Hub for more information and resources that can help you take action and help protect the affordable housing programs people rely on.