Water Resources Development Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to build and study dozens of navigation, flood control, and ecosystem projects nationwide, including major harbor deepenings and lock replacements. Some individual projects carry billion-dollar price tags, like the Everglades restoration and Kentucky Lock addition.
• The bill reauthorizes EPA drinking water and clean water revolving loan funds at billions of dollars per year through 2030, helping states and towns fix pipes and treatment plants.
• A major focus is removing lead pipes and treating forever chemicals (PFAS). Revolving funds can be used for lead service line replacement and for addressing emerging contaminants including PFAS.
• For communities that lack money, the federal government covers a larger share of costs, often 90 percent, for flood protection and water infrastructure benefiting economically disadvantaged communities.
• The bill invests in restoring major ecosystems like the Everglades, Great Lakes, and Long Island Sound, and requires water systems to strengthen cybersecurity against hackers.
• The bill limits the Corps from pausing or terminating already-funded studies and projects, requiring it to resume work that was stopped and to keep local sponsors informed of schedules.