The House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 bill for the Transportation, House and Urban Development, and related agencies subcommittee on Monday.
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) said the bill appropriates a non-defense discretionary total of $89 billion and a defense discretionary total of $388 million. The bill prioritizes air traffic control infrastructure, controller hiring and transportation safety, while maintaining spending for housing assistance, he said.
“The FY26 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill ensures safe and efficient air travel, maintains access to housing for vulnerable Americans, bolsters critical military and civilian infrastructure while delivering targeted funding to help federal agencies better serve the American people while employing fiscal responsibility,” he said. “As a former mayor, I’ve seen firsthand how these programs can drive investment and strengthen communities in Arkansas and across the country. I look forward to advancing this bill and thank Chairman Cole for his leadership and all of my colleagues on the subcommittee for their contributions to this bill.”
The bill is nearly 5 percent below ($4.458 billion) this year’s funding level and reflects the American First agenda, he said, by including “responsible levels for housing programs and reprioritizing transportation funding to meet infrastructure needs across the nation.”
The bill increases funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by $2.3 billion over this year’s level, as well as provides the FAA with resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers and replace the agency’s telecommunication infrastructure. The bill would also redirect money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to safety and improving the movement of freight, while supporting investments into the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The legislation includes $3.8 billion more than FY25 funding levels for highways, rail, airports, and maritime infrastructure.
“Building stronger, traveling safer, and supporting American households are the foundations of this FY26 bill,” Committee Chair Tom Cole said. “With targeted investments in surface transportation infrastructure, everyone from the traveling public to freight haulers will benefit from improved reliability and systems. We prioritize safer skies through enhanced air traffic control personnel and technology and also bolster maritime defenses.”