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Updated June 27, 2022
Army Corps of Engineers: FY2023 Appropriations
Congress generally funds the civil works activities of the
As with previous budget requests, a majority of President
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in annual Energy
Biden’s FY2023 USACE budget request would fund
and Water Development appropriations acts. These
maintenance of existing infrastructure, as reflected by the
activities include the planning and construction of
share of funds requested for the O&M account (see Figure
authorized water resource projects and the operation and
2). The share of funding for construction in the FY2023
maintenance of infrastructure and navigation improvements
budget request is 19%, which is less than the 30% for this
managed by USACE. For USACE civil works, President
account in FY2022 annual appropriations. The FY2023
Biden requested $6.60 billion for FY2023 (see Figure 1),
request maintains the 2 to 1 benefit-cost ratio (BCR)
which is $1.74 billion below FY2022 enacted annual
threshold, first utilized last year, as the minimum basis for
appropriations of $8.34 billion (Division D, Title I of P.L.
requesting funds for navigation and flood risk reduction
117-103). In 2021, Congress provided USACE with $22.81
construction projects. Previous Administrations often used
billion in supplemental appropriations in P.L. 117-43 and
a BCR threshold of greater than 2.5 to 1.
P.L. 117-58 (see CRS In Focus IF11945, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers: Supplemental Appropriations). Of P.L. 117-
Newly funded studies and projects are referred to as new
58 supplemental appropriations, $1.08 billion are to become
starts. The Administration is requesting funding for three
available for use in FY2023 (e.g., $1.00 billion for
new studies and no new construction starts for FY2023. The
navigation Operations and Maintenance [O&M] activities).
President’s FY2022 budget request included seven new
During the FY2023 appropriation process, the
studies and four new construction projects; the enacted
Administration may continue its allocation of these
FY2022 annual appropriations funded a number of new
supplemental funds toward eligible USACE activities.
study and construction projects in addition to those
requested. Supplemental appropriations enacted in 2021
Figure 1. Annual USACE Budget Requests and
also allocated funds toward additional new starts in
Appropriations, FY2013-FY2023
FY2022. For more on the USACE appropriations process
(nominal $, in bil ions)
and related issues, see CRS Report R46320, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers: Annual Appropriations Process and
Issues for Congress.
Figure 2. USACE FY2019-FY2022 Annual
Appropriations and FY2023 Request, by Account
(nominal $, in bil ions)
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS).
USACE Funding and FY2023 Request
Unlike many of the federal agencies that support
infrastructure investments by distributing funds to
nonfederal entities by formula or through competitive grant
programs, USACE directly commits funds for project
Source: CRS, based on enacted appropriations laws.
planning and construction. It uses most of its appropriations
Notes: ASA = Assistant Secretary of the Army; FUSRAP = Formerly
for work on specific studies and projects authorized by
Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program; Regulatory = Regulatory
Congress. Nonfederal project sponsors or users often share
Program; Req = Request; WIFIA = Water Infrastructure Finance and
in the project construction costs.
Innovation Act. Although the FY2023 request included a proposal to
fund certain expenses directly from two navigation trust funds, the
FY2023 request is shown using traditional USACE accounts.
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Army Corps of Engineers: FY2023 Appropriations
Navigation Improvements, Flood Risk Reduction,
studies and projects, which sometimes are referred to as
and Ecosystem Restoration Activities
earmarks. The 117th Congress included congressionally
The FY2023 budget requests $3.12 billion for
directed funding for these site-specific studies and projects
navigation―almost $1.91 billion for coastal navigation and
in the enacted FY2022 appropriations (see Figure 3). For
harbors and $1.21 billion for inland and intracoastal
FY2022, in addition to providing funds for the President’s
waterways. Of the $3.12 billion, $2.90 billion would be for
requested studies and projects, Congress in the joint
navigation O&M. For navigation construction, the request
explanatory statement (1) funded $584 million for
includes funds for one coastal project and one inland
geographically specific studies and projects that were
project.
requested by Members of Congress (i.e., community project
funding/congressionally directed spending items, CPF/CDS
The FY2023 request for flood risk reduction is $1.51
items) and (2) provided funds in broad categories (referred
billion, of which $1.48 billion is for inland flood risk
to as additional funding), such as shore protection, and
reduction projects (including $396 million for construction
directed USACE to develop a work plan to distribute funds
projects). The request includes $32 million for coastal
to individual studies and projects (as had been the case in
storm damage reduction (with no funding for construction
the 112th-116th Congresses). While most CPF/CDS requests
in this amount).
were included in FY2022 enacted appropriations, some
CPF/CDS items included in the FY2022 House and Senate
For FY2023, President Biden requests $624 million for
bills were funded at a lower level or not included in the
USACE aquatic ecosystem restoration efforts, of which
enacted bill and explanatory statement.
$418 million is requested for Everglades restoration.
Figure 3.USACE Funding for Individual Studies and
Continuing Authorities Programs
Projects, FY2018-FY2022
USACE plans and constructs projects of limited scope and
(nominal $, in bil ions)
cost, without project-specific authorizations, through its
Continuing Authorities Programs (CAPs; see CRS In Focus
IF11106, Army Corps of Engineers: Continuing Authorities
Programs). President Biden’s FY2023 request includes
$4.5 million for four of nine authorized CAPs. In the
enacted FY2022 annual appropriations, Congress funded
$53 million for eight CAPs.
Civil Works Infrastructure Financing Program
In 2014, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation
Act (WIFIA, 33 U.S.C. §§3901-3914, as amended)
authorized USACE to provide credit assistance, in the form
of secured or direct loans, for a range of water resource
projects. In FY2021, Congress created a new USACE
WIFIA account and funded the program at $14.2 million.
Congress provided an additional $75.0 million for the
USACE WIFIA account in P.L. 117-58 and $7.2 million in
regular FY2022 appropriations. The funds provided to date
are to cover the subsidy and administrative costs for
Source: CRS, using enacted appropriations laws and reports.
financial assistance for nonfederal dam safety projects. The
Notes: CPF/CDS = community project funding/congressional y
FY2023 request is for $10 million for administrative costs
directed spending. Continuing Authorities Programs are not included.
to carry out the USACE WIFIA subsidies funded in
FY2021 and P.L. 117-58. (See CRS Insight IN11577, U.S.
For FY2023, the House and Senate Appropriations
Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Infrastructure
committees invited Members of Congress to request CPF
Financing Program (CWIFP): Status and Issues.)
/CDS items, respectively. Their instructions identify
USACE’s Investigations, Construction, Mississippi River
Actions to Address Climate Resilience and
and Tributaries, and O&M accounts as eligible for requests.
Disadvantaged Communities
Congress may choose to fund site-specific studies and
The FY2023 request includes $86 million for activities
projects using a similar approach as in FY2022, which
related to climate resilience for USACE O&M and project
combined addressing the President’s request and CPF/CDS
planning and $37 million for community technical
requests while providing additional funds for USACE to
assistance (e.g., Planning Assistance to States). The request
allocate in a work plan, or through another approach.
also notes that USACE plans to designate a lead in each
district and division to identify ways to advance resilience
Anna E. Normand, Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
to climate change, particularly for disadvantaged
Nicole T. Carter, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
communities, under its existing authorities.
IF12090
Congressionally Directed Funding Process
From the 112th to the 116th Congresses, moratorium policies
limited congressionally directed funding of site-specific
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Army Corps of Engineers: FY2023 Appropriations
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12090 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED