Why Federal Appropriations Matter More Than Ever, and How Indigo Hill Strategies Is Expanding to Meet the Moment

We may be days into 2026, but Congress has yet to fully fund the federal government for the current fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2025. The longest shutdown in U.S. history concluded with the enactment of three appropriations bills covering part of Fiscal Year 2026, alongside a temporary continuing resolution funding the remaining federal agencies through January 30, 2026.

As lawmakers returned from the holidays, appropriators faced mounting pressure to complete the remaining work. Senate leadership is expected to revisit a minibus package of five appropriations bills that stalled in December, while House Republican leadership, including Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Tom Cole (R-OK), has outlined an aggressive January schedule aimed at passing three bills per week to avoid another continuing resolution. Despite these plans, ongoing disagreements between House and Senate appropriators over topline spending levels make an extension beyond January 30 increasingly likely.

While the procedural outcome remains uncertain, two realities are clear. Congressional leaders are highly motivated to avoid another shutdown in a politically sensitive midterm election year, and organizations that understand how to navigate appropriations during periods of uncertainty are best positioned to secure limited federal dollars.

That is where Indigo Hill Strategies comes in.

As we enter our second year of operation, Indigo Hill Strategies is expanding our federal offerings to include full-service appropriations support beginning with the Fiscal Year 2027 cycle.

We will partner closely with clients to shape competitive Community Project Funding requests, identify the right congressional champions, manage submissions, and support follow-up with federal agencies. For healthcare, aging, and disability stakeholders facing growing financial strain, particularly in the wake of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21), the federal appropriations process presents both a challenge and a critical opportunity.

Appropriations are no longer a “nice to have.” They are increasingly essential to sustaining programs, piloting innovation, and offsetting reimbursement and regulatory pressures.

To support this expanded work, we are proud to welcome Ebony Slaughter-Johnson to the Indigo Hill Strategies team. Ebony brings deep experience at the intersection of law, policy, and federal funding.

A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, she began her career as a federal lobbyist in the Washington, DC office of a multinational law firm, advising clients across multiple appropriations cycles and funding bills. Her ability to translate complex policy landscapes into actionable strategy strengthens our commitment to delivering practical, results-oriented guidance to clients.

With Ebony’s expertise and our firm’s integrated approach to policy, communications, and congressional engagement, Indigo Hill Strategies is uniquely positioned to help organizations pursue federal funding with intention and discipline.

If your organization is considering federal appropriations as part of its 2027 strategy, or if you are reassessing how federal funding fits into your broader financial and policy goals, now is the time to start the conversation. Reach out to our team to learn how Indigo Hill Strategies can help you identify opportunities, avoid common missteps, and compete effectively in a constrained funding environment.

We look forward to advising clients throughout the year and sharing timely appropriations insights as the FY 2026 and FY 2027 cycles continue to unfold.

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