The U.S. Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act with a vote of 82-15. The bill previously passed in the House of Representatives by a margin of 397 to 28 and now awaits the President’s signature.
This legislation allocates $78 billion in discretionary funding for various federal priorities. Of this amount, $71.4 billion is directed toward nondefense initiatives, while $6.6 billion supports defense-related activities.
Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, stated: “This legislation includes funding to ensure the brave men and women who make up law enforcement departments across the country have the resources and personnel needed to combat the fentanyl crisis, apprehend violent fugitives, and prosecute criminals. The bill also funds research in critical scientific and technological fields that are necessary to ensure the United States remains competitive with China.”
Senator Jerry Moran, Chair of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee, added: “This legislation strengthens the programs that are important to Kansas – support for local law enforcement to combat violent crime and disrupt fentanyl trafficking, investments to bolster economic growth, and resources to provide critical 24/7 weather coverage – while also taking steps to make targeted reductions in spending. I appreciate the support from my colleagues to fund critical programs that strengthen our nation’s federal law enforcement, invest in NASA’s Artemis program, support scientific research, and improve our economic competitiveness.”
Key provisions include $1.5 billion for preparations for the 2030 Decennial Census at the Bureau of the Census; $1.85 billion for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), supporting leadership in quantum information science and artificial intelligence; $6.2 billion for operations at NOAA; $24.4 billion for NASA—including significant investment in lunar exploration through Artemis as well as Earth observation and deep space science; and $8.75 billion for continued research efforts at the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The appropriations act aims to reinforce federal law enforcement efforts against issues such as fentanyl trafficking while promoting advancements in technology and science through agencies like NIST and NSF.
