The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $1.5 billion Notice of Funding Opportunity for infrastructure projects across the country.
According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the grants for FY 2026 from the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (Build) program will prioritize increasing safety measures, expanding transportation options and improving travel experience and efficiency. Duffy said projects that beautify transportation infrastructure, improve roadway capacity and make transportation affordable, support U.S. energy “dominance,” facilitate tourism, as well as projects that improve the travel experience for families through facilities for mothers, accessibility for those with disabilities, intuitive design elements, clear signage, intuitive layouts and predictable operations of caregivers, would be given priority.
“Under President Trump, America is building again,” Duffy said. “(former President) Joe Biden and (former U.S. Transportation Secretary) Pete Buttigieg twisted these grants to advance their radical climate and social agenda. We’ve ripped out the red tape and refocused the program on advancing safe and innovative projects that lower costs and improve America’s outdated transportation networks.”
Part of former President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the BUILD program aimed to create jobs and spur economic recovery through transportation infrastructure investments. As of July 2025, the program has awarded more than $18 billion in 18 rounds to local governments, Tribes, transit and port authorities, states, and other entities.
The program’s goal is to identify transportation projects with the capacity to have significant local or regional impacts, including highway, rail, port and truck parking projects. The BUILD grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Applications for the FY 2026 grants are due on Feb. 24, 2026 at 5 p.m. EST.