Blank Rome Government Relations LLC (BRGR) provides the Weekly Washington Update to inform you of recent developments in Congress and Washington. For information on President Trump’s Executive Orders and other actions, please see our Executive Order Tracker.
Budget, Tax and Small Business
Congress Sends Funding Bill to Avert US Shutdown to President Trump: Congress has passed a stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government funded through December 11, 2026, avoiding a potential government shutdown when current funding expires on October 1. The House approved the measure by a bipartisan 370-48 vote after the Senate had already passed it in August. The bill now goes to President Trump, who has said he will not sign legislation until Congress adopts new voter identification requirements, though he could allow the measure to become law without signing it. The temporary funding measure postpones major budget disputes until after the November midterm elections, including debates over Pentagon spending and proposed cuts to social safety net programs.
The legislation reflects a rare bipartisan agreement after a year marked by contentious funding fights and shutdown threats. In addition to maintaining government operations, it includes several policy provisions: delaying by one month a ban on intoxicating hemp products, blocking a White House rule that could steer grants only to Republican-supporting states, and preventing higher border patrol funding through an existing loophole. Lawmakers also deferred consideration of a separate $95 billion emergency Iran war funding package and a proposal to increase the Pentagon’s base budget by $350 billion. Supporters argued the bill contains no major partisan provisions and helps avoid disruptions such as airport screening delays and other consequences associated with a government shutdown. (BGOV)
Update: President Trump has signed the stopgap funding bill into law. As a result, the measure is now enacted, ensuring continued government funding through December 11th.
Defense And National Security
President Trump Nominated Hung Cao to be Navy Secretary: President Trump announced this week that he is nominating Hung Cao to serve as Secretary of the Navy after the previous secretary stepped down in April. Cao has been serving as Acting Navy Secretary for the past four months, and Trump praised him as a patriot and warfighter, urging the Senate to confirm him quickly so he can continue leading the Navy and Marine Corps. Cao responded that it was “an honor of a lifetime” and said he would focus on shipbuilding and homeland defense.
Cao immigrated to the United States in 1975, enlisted in the Navy in 1989, and was later commissioned as a Special Operations Officer after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996. He previously ran unsuccessfully against Sen. Tim Kaine in Virginia’s 2024 Senate race. As acting secretary, Cao has overseen the Navy during ongoing military operations related to the conflict with Iran and faced scrutiny over reported conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including allegations of mold, poor food quality, and sailor morale issues. His nomination now awaits Senate confirmation, with some Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Rick Scott, already expressing support. (The Hill)
Transportation, Trade, And Commerce
House Passes Transportation Programs Extension in Continuing Resolution: The House approved continuing resolution passed this week extends federal transportation programs through December 11, avoiding disruption while giving Congress roughly 10 more weeks to negotiate a long-term surface transportation reauthorization package for highways, transit, railroads, ports, and other infrastructure. Negotiations over a broader transportation bill remain unresolved, with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act stalled amid disagreements that include a proposed electric vehicle and hybrid user fee and other policy provisions such as rail crew requirements. Democrats could gain additional leverage in future talks depending on the election outcome, while industry groups are urging Congress to build on the House bill to provide stable, multi-year infrastructure funding and modernization reforms. (BGOV)
Current Update on Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern Merger: Opponents of Union Pacific’s proposed merger with Norfolk Southern have launched an interactive map aimed at demonstrating the merger’s potential impacts on communities nationwide, arguing that a combined railroad would significantly increase train traffic, lengthen crossing delays, raise the risk of blocked crossings, and create additional challenges for emergency responders. The effort is intended to counter Union Pacific’s assertion that it has sufficient capacity to accommodate increased traffic if the merger is approved.
Meanwhile, the Surface Transportation Board has extended the deadline for interested parties to notify the agency of their intent to participate in the merger review from Sept. 4 to Sept. 30. This extension will provide stakeholders with additional time to weigh in on what is expected to be one of the most closely scrutinized rail transactions in recent years. (BGOV)
Energy And Environment
DOE and SBA Launch New Initiative to Unleash Private Capital for American Innovation in Energy: The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) have launched the new Small Business Investment Company-Energy (SBIC-E) Initiative, a partnership designed to increase private investment in U.S. small businesses working in energy, manufacturing, and other strategic technology sectors. The initiative combines DOE’s technical expertise and commercialization programs with SBA’s long-standing Small Business Investment Company program, which has invested $147 billion in small businesses since 1958 and currently manages a portfolio valued at $58 billion. Administration officials said the goal is to strengthen domestic manufacturing, supply chains, job creation, and U.S. leadership in technologies tied to economic and national security.
Under the agreement, DOE will help identify priority technologies and provide technical and commercialization support, while SBA will oversee the program and encourage the creation of investment funds focused on those areas. Initial priorities include energy production and security, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, advanced communications, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies. The initiative will also support companies connected to DOE innovation programs such as SBIR/STTR, ARPA-E, the Technology Commercialization Fund, and national laboratory commercialization efforts, with the aim of helping promising technologies secure private capital and scale in the United States. (U.S. Department of Energy Press Release)
Nuclear Energy Licensing, Oversight Bills Moved by House Panel: The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a package of bipartisan energy bills focused largely on modernizing nuclear energy regulation. Key measures would update licensing procedures for uranium enrichment facilities (H.R. 9612), strengthen the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards’ oversight of nuclear reactor facilities (H.R. 9613), and require public disclosure of certain Department of Energy safety directives (H.R. 9084), all as amendments to the Atomic Energy Act framework. The committee also advanced legislation affecting transportation emissions rules, including bills to limit state authority over locomotive emissions standards and to restrict enforcement of certain bus engine-idling regulations. Debate over the idling provisions was contentious, with Democrats including Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) arguing that loosening restrictions could harm children's health, though their proposed amendments failed to gain sufficient Republican support. (BGOV)
Natural Resources and Native American Issues
BLM Prepares to Permit Next Chapter of Trans Alaska Pipeline System: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has initiated a 15-day public scoping period as the first step in reviewing and potentially approving a 30-year renewal of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System’s right-of-way. The action follows an application from Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and begins the environmental review process required to extend authorization for the 800-mile pipeline, which has been a critical component of U.S. energy infrastructure since it was built between 1974 and 1977. The pipeline has transported more than 19 billion barrels of oil from Alaska’s North Slope, including an average of 463,000 barrels per day in 2025.
BLM officials framed the renewal as part of a broader federal effort to strengthen domestic energy production and economic security. Alaska State Director Kevin Pendergast highlighted the pipeline’s continued importance to Alaska’s economy and global energy markets, while noting its role in supporting future development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s Coastal Plain. The review is being conducted under the Administration’s broader policies aimed at expanding energy development in Alaska, increasing regulatory certainty, and streamlining permitting for resource projects. Public comments on the proposal are being accepted through September 10, 2026. (Bureau of Land management Press Release)
House Passes Bill to Speed Up Permitting for Mining Projects: This week, the House passed the Protecting Domestic Mining Act (H.R. 1501) by a vote of 218-201. This bill expands eligibility for the FAST-41 permitting program to all mining and mineral processing projects, which would accelerate federal environmental review and permitting timelines. The bill would reverse a Biden-era proposal that limited FAST-41 eligibility to certain mining, processing, and recycling projects, broadening expedited permitting across the mining sector. Originally established under the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, FAST-41 is intended to streamline permitting for major infrastructure projects. The legislation is backed by industry groups including the American Exploration & Mining Association, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the National Mining Association, while consumer advocacy group Public Citizen opposes the measure. (BGOV)