February 2026 Policy Spotlight: Bipartisan Opportunity Youth Caucus Relaunch & FY2026 Appropriations Update
Representatives Bresnahan (R-PA) and Carter (D-LA) Relaunch the Bipartisan Opportunity Youth Caucus
Earlier this month, NYEC supported the relaunch of the Bipartisan Opportunity Youth Caucus (BOYC), which is led by Congressman Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) and Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA).
The Caucus, which was first launched during the 118th Congress with support from the California Opportunity Youth Network and other national and state partners, will convene members of the House of Representatives to discuss bipartisan policy solutions to the challenges opportunity youth face.
NYEC, along with other national partners, supported the relaunch of the Caucus last week by hosting a Congressional briefing for Congressional staff. There, panelists spoke of the importance of high-quality pathways for young people and wraparound supports to ensure their completion of programs. Co-chairs Rep. Bresnahan and Rep. Carter provided remarks reiterating the significance and the importance of the Caucus.
Now that the Caucus has officially relaunched, NYEC is encouraging its members and partners to contact their Representatives to ask them to join the BOYC. If you are interested in learning more about the Caucus and how you can support it, please email nathan.hora@nyec.org.
FY2026 Appropriations Update
Congress finalized most FY2026 appropriations bills on February 3rd, but funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was left unresolved and later lapsed, resulting in a partial shutdown of the department.
Congress passed and Donald Trump signed into law a $1.2 trillion FY2026 appropriations package funding most federal agencies through September 30, 2026, including the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill, which maintains youth workforce development programs such as WIOA Youth, Apprenticeship, and Job Corps at or near prior-year levels. However, lawmakers were unable to reach agreement on full-year DHS funding and instead enacted a short-term continuing resolution that temporarily extended funding while negotiations continued. When those negotiations stalled amid disagreements over immigration-related policy provisions, DHS funding lapsed in mid-February, triggering a partial shutdown. While certain essential functions continued under contingency plans, the lapse created operational disruptions and uncertainty for programs and personnel within the department.
NYEC will continue monitoring developments and share updates as Congress works toward a resolution.