House GOP fiscal hawks have requested tens of millions of federal dollars for projects in their home districts for fiscal year 2026, an analysis by Fox News Digital has found. It’s common practice for congressional lawmakers to request funding for specific community initiatives for the people they represent – measures called “earmarks.” Critics of such funding have often referred to it as “pork,” however. This coming fiscal year, beginning on Oct. 1, is no different – both Republicans and Democrats have requests totaling over a billion dollars in earmarks so far. That includes conservatives in the House of Representatives who have been known to criticize what they describe as excessive or bloated government spending. House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, R-Md., for instance, has been approved for more than $55 million in federal funding for projects in his district.
