Power of the Purse Report

Under the Constitution, Congress holds the power of the purse — determining how federal dollars flow and shaping which programs, communities, and priorities move forward.

In practice, the annual appropriations process has become one of the most powerful levers Congress uses to influence public policy — and this year, it has also become one of the most dangerous arenas for LGBTQ+ people.

Power of the Purse: Anti-LGBTQ+ Extremism in the Congressional Appropriations Process connects the dots. It places appropriations riders alongside the NDAA debates, the weaponized rescissions process, and broader legislative attacks — showing how these efforts are coordinated, escalating, and increasingly embedded in federal policymaking.

The takeaway is clear: These are not symbolic fights. They are attempts to rewrite federal law, redirect public funding, and permanently weaken the infrastructure that protects health, equity, and democracy. Our advocacy must be equally strategic, equally bold, and rooted in coalition.