Committee Approves FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 35 to 28. 

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Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR) said, “The FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill presents a critical opportunity to right size funding levels in order to support the programs that benefit Americans most and use taxpayer dollars as efficiently as possible. Among its many impactful provisions, the bill allocates an additional $2 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), preserves funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program, reduces discretionary spending by 5%, and provides funds to address our nation’s truck parking shortage. It is my hope that the rest of the House will join us in passing this legislation, so we can fulfill our Congressional duty of annually appropriating taxpayer dollars. I want to thank Chairman Cole for his leadership and my fellow committee members for their contributions to this bill."

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Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, "With today’s FY26 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development bill, we are building America’s future—improving how we travel, where we live, and how we grow as a nation. From our roads and bridges to our ports and skies, it supports the safety and security of vital transit systems. Enhanced resources for FAA facilities and equipment will modernize air traffic control, hire needed controllers, and accelerate the deployment of new technologies. We also empower local communities through programs that support economic development and housing assistance for vulnerable Americans. Investments maintain vital missions while advancing fiscal discipline through the elimination of wasteful and duplicative initiatives. Chairman Womack’s commitment to delivering savings and results for U.S. taxpayers—and his experience as a mayor—is reflected in every provision of this just-approved out of committee bill.”

Subcommittee Chairman Womack's opening remarks are available here.
Chairman Cole's opening remarks are available here.

Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $89.910 billion, which is $4.458 billion (4.7%) below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. This level reflects the America First agenda by including responsible levels for housing programs and reprioritizing transportation funding to meet infrastructure needs across the nation.

The bill provides a non-defense discretionary total of $89.522 billion and a defense discretionary total of $388 million. This bill prioritizes air traffic control infrastructure, controller hiring, and transportation safety while maintaining essential housing assistance for our nation’s most vulnerable.

Key Takeaways

Invests in transportation safety and rebuilds America by:  

• Increasing funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by $2.307 billion over FY25 enacted levels, which will keep our skies safe and help build a world-class air traffic control system.
• Providing the FAA with resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers and replace FAA’s aged telecommunication infrastructure.
• Redirecting $4.4 billion in wasteful Democratic priorities from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) to instead invest in safety and improve the movement of freight and the traveling public.
• Supporting the next generation of mariners through investments in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: 

• Upholding America First priorities by guaranteeing that the U.S. has the most modern, safe, and efficient transportation system in the world.
• Empowering HUD to refocus housing assistance to promote self-sufficiency while maintaining support for America’s most vulnerable – including the elderly and disabled.
• Reinforcing President Trump’s executive orders on eliminating DEI initiatives, regulatory streamlining, American security, and innovation.
• Rebuilding America with $3.8 billion above FY25 for highways, rail, airports, and maritime infrastructure.

Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by: 

• Promoting defense readiness capabilities by funding the U.S. Merchant Marines, shipyards, the strategic sealift programs, including the Cable Security Program, the Maritime Security Program, and the Tanker Security Program.
• Supporting America’s vehicle and aircraft manufacturers to ensure global leadership and to counter China’s malign influence.
• Maintaining “Buy American” provisions that maximize the federal government’s use of services, goods, products, and materials produced and offered in the United States.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: 

• Cutting or redirecting $9.4 billion through program eliminations, rescissions, and repurposing, as compared to a Continuing Resolution that would repeat Democrat priorities.
• Cutting HUD staff by 26%, consistent with reductions in force implemented by Secretary Turner, saving $334 million in salaries and expenses compared to the FY25 enacted level. Overall, the bill cuts staff by 5% across all Departments and Agencies, while holding DOT safety harmless.
• Returning agencies to their core missions by eliminating and reducing 38 wasteful programs, totaling $7.3 billion in savings below FY25.

A summary of the bill is available here.

During the markup, Committee Republicans also stood with the America First agenda and rejected Democrat amendments that would have:  

• Wasted taxpayer dollars on funding for unnecessary and duplicative initiatives.
• Impeded the authority of the President of the United States.
• Supported sanctuary city policies and reinstated CRT and DEI initiatives.
• Allowed DOT speed limiter regulations on commercial motor vehicles.
• Overfunded blue state housing and transportation priorities.
• Hampered FAA and HUD from managing their workforce.
• Directed public taxpayer funds toward private FIFA sporting events without clear public benefit or transparency.

Adopted Amendments 

• Womack #1 (Manager’s Amendment) – Makes technical, bipartisan changes to the bill and report.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Womack #2 (Republican En Bloc) – Makes technical changes, designates the First Lady Melania Trump Youth Foster to Independence initiative, ensure funds can’t be utilized for speed and red-light cameras, and includes report on congestion pricing.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• LaLota #1 – Prohibits implementation of congestion pricing in New York City, a President Trump priority, to protect commuters, residents, small businesses, and visitors.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Torres #2 – Supports the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator program to fast-track major project development and delivery, with cost offsets included
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Gluesenkamp Perez #1 –  Directs a comprehensive report on safety risks posed by low beam headlight brightness, particularly across varied terrain.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Cuellar #2 – Urges creation of a UAS exclusion zone along the U.S.-Mexico border to counter cartel threats, with exceptions for authorized government and licensed civilian use.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available here.
  

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