INSIGHTi
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works:
Primer and Resources
Updated June 27, 2022
Congress plays a role in the nation’s water resource development through authorization and
appropriations of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) projects and activities. USACE is a
Department of Defense agency that develops civil works projects principally to improve navigable
channels, reduce flood and storm damage, and restore aquatic ecosystems.
The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASACW) provides policy direction and supervision
of USACE civil works. A military Chief of Engineers manages USACE’s civil and military missions.
USACE’s 38 district offices work with nonfederal project sponsors to develop water resource projects.
Standard USACE project delivery consists of USACE leading the study, design, and construction of
authorized projects. Nonfederal project sponsors typically share in study and construction costs, including
providing real estate and generally performing operation and maintenance (O&M) for flood risk reduction
and ecosystem restoration projects. USACE typically performs O&M for navigation and some
multipurpose projects, such as dams. USACE operates more than 700 dams and maintains more than 900
coastal, Great Lakes, and inland harbors, as well as 12,000 miles of inland waterways.
USACE projects typically require two separate congressional authorizations—one for studying feasibility
and one for construction—and appropriations for both. This Insight summarizes the USACE authorization
and funding processes and provides links to related resources.
Project and Programmatic Authorization
Most USACE projects start with congressional authorization to conduct a feasibility study of a water
resource issue. If funded, the feasibility study evaluates alternatives to address the issue and recommends
one alternative for construction. The Chief of Engineers then signs a recommendation for project
construction (i.e., the Chief’s report) and transmits the completed feasibility study and the Chief’s report
to congressional authorizing committees for consideration.
Some projects experience cost or design changes after authorization. If project features or estimated costs
change significantly, additional congressional authorization may be necessary to modify the project
authorization.
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Congress has granted USACE programmatic authorities―Continuing Authorities Programs (CAPs)—that
enable USACE and nonfederal sponsors to undertake cost-shared projects of limited scope and cost
without requiring project-specific congressional authorization. Congress also has authorized USACE to
engage in technical assistance for certain activities, such as flood risk mitigation and watershed studies,
and to provide environmental infrastructure assistance for certain publicly owned facilities (e.g.,
municipal water supply and wastewater collection projects).
Resources on USACE Authorizations
CRS Report R45185, Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorization and
Project Delivery Processes
USACE, “Signed Chief Reports”
CRS In Focus IF11106, Army Corps of Engineers: Continuing Authorities Programs
CRS Report R47162, Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Environmental Infrastructure
(EI) Assistance: Authorities, Appropriations, and Issues for Congress
Water Resources Development Acts
Congress generally authorizes USACE studies, projects, and programs and makes changes to the agency’s
policies through omnibus authorization acts, typically titled Water Resources Development Acts
(WRDAs). WRDAs generally authorize new activities that are added to the pool of existing authorized
activities. Numerous projects authorized for construction in previous WRDAs remain unfunded.
Authorization provisions in WRDAs can be project-specific, programmatic, or general directives. Most
project-specific authorizations in WRDAs fall into three general categories: project studies, construction
projects, and modifications to existing projects. WRDAs also have established deauthorization processes
and/or have deauthorized individual projects.
In Section 7001 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. §2282d),
Congress established an annual process for nonfederal entities to submit to USACE proposals for site-
specific studies and modifications to existing authorizations. The ASACW transmits a report to USACE’s
congressional authorizing committees containing the proposals. Congress may authorize new feasibility
studies or amend existing authorizations using these Section 7001 reports (e.g., the 2021 and 2022
reports) or other information.
Since the 1980s, Congress generally has considered WRDAs biennially; the timing of enactment has
varied. Congress enacted WRDA-type legislation in 2000, 2007, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Congress
enacted WRDA 2020 (Division AA of P.L. 116-260) in December 2020. After WRDA enactment, USACE
may develop implementation guidance for some provisions. For example, starting in mid-2021, USACE
has been releasing implementation guidance for selected WRDA 2020 provisions. Guidance documents
for other provisions remain in development.
Resources on WRDA Considerations
CRS Insight IN11118, Army Corps of Engineers: Section 7001 Report on Future Studies
and Projects
USACE, “Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development”
CRS In Focus IF11322, Water Resources Development Acts: Primer
CRS In Focus IF11700, Water Resources Development Act of 2020
USACE, “WRDA 2020 Implementation Guidance”
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Appropriations
The majority of USACE’s appropriations are used to perform work on geographically specific studies and
congressionally authorized projects (e.g., study and construction of new and modified projects, O&M of
constructed projects). Congress typically appropriates funds for USACE activities in annual Energy and
Water Development appropriations acts (e.g., $8.3 billion in FY2022).
USACE’s annual appropriations process generally involves three major milestones (see Figure 1): the
President’s budget request, congressional deliberation and enactment of appropriations, and
Administration development of a USACE work plan allocating funds to specific studies and projects. In
the 117th Congress, Congress also included congressionally directed funding for site-specific projects (i.e.,
community project funding/congressionally directed spending [CPF/CDS]) in the FY2022 appropriations
process, the first of this type of funding since the 111th Congress.
Figure 1. USACE Annual Appropriations Process
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Congress has also used supplemental appropriations to fund USACE emergency specific flood-related
response and recovery activities (e.g., $5.7 billion in Division B, Title IV, of P.L. 117-43) and to advance
other purposes, such as general investments in infrastructure (e.g., $17.1 billion in Division J, Title III, of
P.L. 117-58). For some supplemental appropriations, Congress has directed USACE to publish spend
plans identifying funded studies and projects.
Resources on USACE Appropriations
USACE, “Civil Works Budget and Performance”
CRS Report R46320, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Annual Appropriations Process and
Issues for Congress
CRS In Focus IF11846, Army Corps of Engineers: FY2022 Appropriations
CRS In Focus IF12090, Army Corps of Engineers: FY2023 Appropriations
CRS In Focus IF11945, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Supplemental Appropriations
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Author Information
Anna E. Normand
Nicole T. Carter
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of
information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.
CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United
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as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the
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