Budget Hearing – Library of Congress & U.S. Government Publishing Office

The House Appropriations Committee held a budget hearing for the Library of Congress and the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) for fiscal year 2027. The Library of Congress requested a $931.5 million budget, a 3.8% increase over the previous year, primarily to cover mandatory pay and price increases and to invest in technology modernization including AI, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure. The GPO requested flat funding of $132 million, achieved through zero-based budgeting and efficiency gains from new technologies such as digital inkjet printing and AI to streamline document processing. Both agencies emphasized the importance of cybersecurity given recent threats, with the Library highlighting the need to protect sensitive legislative data and the GPO noting past cyber incidents and ongoing security improvements. The Library also discussed challenges with staffing reductions over decades and the potential for AI to help manage increasing workloads, particularly in bill summarization. The hearing included discussions on the impact of government shutdowns on GPO operations, the importance of maintaining institutional continuity, and plans to celebrate significant anniversaries. Members expressed support for modernization efforts while emphasizing fiscal responsibility and the need to maintain trusted, accessible services to Congress and the public.