Insights: Policy

Energy, Miscellaneous

Farm Bill, Biofuels/E15, SNAP, Crop Insurance, Farmer Assistance

enate Agriculture Committee Chair Boozman (R-AR) released a discussion draft of the “Farm Bill” and said he wants to hold a committee vote in July. The House passed its version of the bill in April on a largely partisan basis (i.e., 224 to 200, with 14 Democrats and all but three Republicans voting yes). The bill makes largely technical changes...

Defense Contractor Dividend/Buyback Restrictions

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) included in its annual defense authorization bill (NDAA) an amendment that makes a no-buyback/no-dividend pledge a condition of every new Pentagon contract starting 6/15/27, waivable only if the contractor submits a defense investment plan that the Defense Secretary approves. A similar proposal was...

Iran Supplemental

Deputy Defense Secretary Feinberg told Congressional appropriators that the Pentagon needs ~$80b to cover costs incurred during the Iran war. The Pentagon and some lawmakers have warned that supplemental funding is needed this summer in order to maintain operations and training. Key Congressional Democrats have indicated they will not vote for...

The U.S. and Iran this week signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that ends hostilities (including in Lebanon), reopens the Strait of Hormuz, waives Iranian oil sanctions and opens an extendable 60-day window for the two sides to negotiate broader sanctions relief in exchange for Iranian nuclear concessions. The reaction in Congress ranges...

Medicaid (OBBBA/Sec. 1115 Waivers)

CMS issued guidance previewing a new statutory budget neutrality standard for Medicaid section 1115 demonstrations. Budget neutrality was never required by statute. Rather, CMS imposed it administratively by setting “with waiver” and “without waiver” spending limits with states up front and assessing compliance over time.

RFK/MAHA Agenda

Reports have recently circulated suggesting HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) may be leaving the Trump administration sometime in July. HHS has pushed back on that reporting, saying Kennedy remains in the role and is continuing to advance the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.