The U.S. Senate has passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act with a vote of 82-15. The House of Representatives approved the bill last week by a margin of 397 to 28. The legislation is now headed to the President for signature.
This appropriations bill allocates $58 billion in discretionary funding, dividing $23.8 billion for nondefense purposes and $34.2 billion for defense-related activities.
Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, stated, “This legislation will help strengthen America’s energy independence, supporting an all-of-the-above approach to energy research, development, and deployment efforts. The bill provides strong support for our national defense by meeting the needs of our nuclear deterrence posture during this period of growing geopolitical tensions. At home, the bill funds critical Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects, which provide for safe navigation and flood control.”
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), Chair of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, said: “President Biden left Americans with sky-high electricity bills, a drained national fuel reserve, and a mountain of red tape that strangled energy production and cut good-paying jobs. That wasn’t governing—it was failure. President Trump’s energy agenda brings common sense back to Washington and puts American energy dominance back within reach. The FY 2026 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill delivers real results for Louisianans and the American people by reducing waste, strengthening our nation’s energy and nuclear security, and providing real flood protection. I’m proud this bill is becoming law. The era of Biden’s anti-energy policies is over, and President Trump should sign this bill without hesitation.”
Key provisions in the legislation include $10.4 billion directed toward Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works programs aimed at flood risk reduction, coastal resiliency improvements, port navigability enhancements, and ecosystem restoration projects.
The Department of Interior will receive $1.7 billion allocated to the Bureau of Reclamation to manage water resources in western states.
For defense-related initiatives under the Department of Energy, $33.9 billion will go toward strengthening nuclear deterrence capabilities—including stockpile readiness—and powering Navy nuclear fleets as well as environmental cleanup at legacy sites.
Specific weapons activities are funded at $20.4 billion for modernizing nuclear stockpiles through testing and certification; secure transportation; increased funding for defense nuclear security; as well as investments such as $186 million earmarked for Sea Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear (SLCM-N), $2.6 billion for plutonium pit production including at Savannah River Pit Processing Facility ($1.1 billion), $730 million toward Uranium Production Facility construction or upgrades; plus $270 million focused on boosting domestic lithium production needed for stockpile modernization.
Non-defense priorities at DOE receive $15.1 billion in new budget authority supporting domestic supply chain development along with continued investment in key research areas such as fossil fuels, nuclear power technologies, science initiatives, energy efficiency measures, and renewable energy advancements.
Funding also continues for Regional Commissions that foster economic development across different parts of the country.
