Kay Granger, a veteran Republican lawmaker from Texas who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2025 and who in her final term became the first Republican woman to lead the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has died at the age of 83, her son J.D. Granger confirmed on Sunday. No cause of death has been provided.
Granger's final term saw her occupy a central role in shaping federal spending. For more than a year she chaired the Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for drafting and advancing the spending legislation that funds government programs and agencies. That responsibility made her one of the most influential members of the House during that period.
In 2023, Granger announced she would not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. The following year she disclosed publicly that she was fighting "unforeseen health challenges." The exact nature of those health issues has not been elaborated on, and no cause of death has been released.
House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Granger as a barrier-breaker, saying, "Throughout her career, she broke barriers for women in public service," and noting two milestones frequently associated with her career: that she was the first female mayor of Fort Worth and the first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in the U.S. House.
Her elevation to chair the Appropriations Committee marked another first for Republican women, although the role itself had previously been held by two Democratic women, Representatives Nita Lowey and Rosa DeLauro. DeLauro issued a statement on Sunday reflecting on Granger's career, saying, "At every step of her career, she [Granger] earned the respect of Members on both sides of the aisle through her steady leadership and deep belief in the importance of Congress fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to invest in the American people."
Granger's career spanned local and national office. The achievements cited by colleagues and leaders emphasize both her municipal leadership in Fort Worth and her long tenure representing a Texas congressional district. Her role on the Appropriations Committee placed her at the center of negotiations and decisions over federal expenditures during her time as chair.
Her passing closes a chapter on a long congressional career that included notable firsts by gender and party, and it leaves open questions about the short-term effects on committee leadership and the progress of spending measures she had overseen during her chairmanship.
Contextual summary
Kay Granger's death was confirmed by her son on Sunday. She was 83. During her final term, she led the House Appropriations Committee for over a year, overseeing spending legislation. She represented her Texas district from 1997 to 2025, announced in 2023 she would not run again, and in 2024 disclosed she was facing "unforeseen health challenges." Colleagues from both parties offered praise, highlighting her status as a trailblazer for women in public service.