U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2026 Appropriations

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2026 Appropriations

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2026 Appropriations

March 25, 2026 (IF13191)

Enacted on January 23, 2026, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-74) provided funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Following a lapse in appropriations at the beginning of FY2026, from November 12, 2026, through the enactment of P.L. 119-74, EPA operated under the terms and conditions of a continuing resolution, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-37), generally at FY2025 annual appropriations levels.

P.L. 119-74 provided $8.82 billion in appropriations for EPA for FY2026. This amount is $319.8 million (3.5%) less than the FY2025 annual enacted appropriations for EPA of $9.14 billion, in nominal dollars. FY2026 enacted appropriations are $4.66 billion (111.9%) more than the President's FY2026 budget request for EPA of $4.16 billion. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58), enacted in 2021, provided an additional $12.01 billion for EPA in advance appropriations for FY2026 (IIJA, Division J, Title VI). Together, P.L. 119-74 and P.L. 117-58 provided a total of $20.82 billion for EPA for FY2026. This amount is $319.8 million (1.5%) less than the $21.14 billion in total enacted appropriations for EPA for FY2025 in nominal dollars. Figure 1 shows trends in requested and enacted annual appropriations and additional funding for EPA from FY2017 through FY2026. The figure does not include $41.46 billion in one-time FY2022 mandatory appropriations provided to EPA in P.L. 117-169, the measure known as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Figure 1. EPA Requested and Enacted Appropriations, FY2017-FY2026

Source: CRS, using information from enacted appropriations and accompanying documents; and EPA's Congressional Budget Justifications from FY2017 through FY2026.

Notes: Enacted amounts reflect rescissions and certain additional funding but do not include funds provided in the Inflation Reduction Act for FY2022. IIJA = Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

In recent years, Congress has funded EPA through a combination of regular annual appropriations, additional funding in the IIJA and the IRA, and other supplemental appropriations. Figure 2 shows the distribution of total enacted EPA appropriations since FY2022 among these acts based on the year when the appropriations become available.

Figure 2. EPA Total Enacted Appropriations, FY2022-FY2026

Source: CRS, using information enacted legislation and accompanying documents.

Notes: IIJA = Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; IRA = Inflation Reduction Act. P.L. 117-328 provided $1.67 billion in supplemental appropriations for EPA for FY2023.

EPA Appropriations Accounts

EPA's annual discretionary spending is typically appropriated among 10 statutory accounts: Buildings and Facilities (B&F), Environmental Programs and Management (EPM), Hazardous Substance Superfund (Superfund), Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund (HWMSF), Inland Oil Spill Program (IOS), Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program (LUST), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Science and Technology (S&T), State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG), and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Fund (WIFIA).

As Figure 3 shows, the proportional distribution of funding among the 10 accounts generally remained similar for several fiscal years prior to the enactment of IIJA funds in FY2022, and has generally remained similar to FY2022 levels in the four subsequent fiscal years, with the exception of the Superfund account. Historically, the STAG and EPM accounts have received the largest share of funding, followed by the Superfund and S&T accounts. The STAG account funds grants for water infrastructure, brownfields site assessment and remediation, diesel emissions reduction, targeted airsheds, and "categorical" grants to delegated states and tribes for implementing pollution control programs. The EPM account funds additional grants and cross-cutting agency activities. The Superfund account supports the environmental remediation of priority sites on nonfederal lands designated for federal attention in coordination with the states in which the sites are located. The S&T account funds research that supports agency regulatory decisions.

Figure 3. Combined EPA Annual and IIJA Appropriations by Account, FY2017-FY2026

Source: CRS, using information from enacted legislation and accompanying documents.

Notes: EPM = Environmental Programs and Management; IIJA = Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; S&T = Science and Technology; STAG = State and Tribal Assistance Grants. Enacted amounts reflect rescissions and additional funds but do not include one-time mandatory IRA appropriations for FY2022.

Selected Differences from FY2025 Funding Levels

FY2026 appropriations in P.L. 119-74 included funding increases in one EPA appropriations account (STAG), decreases in five accounts (EPM, IOS, LUST, S&T, and Superfund), and flat funding for three accounts (B&F, OIG, and WIFIA) compared with FY2025 annual enacted appropriations. The HWSMF is fully funded through offsetting collections from waste shipment user fees. This section presents selected comparisons of FY2026 EPA account levels and major program areas with FY2025 enacted appropriations levels.

FY2026 regular enacted appropriations for the STAG account of $4.41 billion are $27.9 million (0.6%) more than FY2025 annual enacted appropriations of $4.38 billion. Including IIJA advance appropriations, FY2026 funding for the STAG account totals $16.03 billion, $27.9 million (0.2%) more than total FY2025 STAG appropriations of $16.00 billion. Within the STAG account, compared to FY2025 annual enacted appropriations, FY2026 regular appropriations provide $24.4 million more for certain infrastructure assistance grants, including congressionally directed spending/community project funding (CDS/CPF). FY2026 annual appropriations also provide $3.5 million more for categorial grants for a range of environmental issues within the STAG account, compared to FY2025 enacted amounts.

FY2026 regular enacted appropriations for the EPM account of $3.11 billion are $80.4 million (2.5%) less than FY2025 annual enacted appropriations of $3.20 billion. Within the EPM account, FY2026 regular appropriations provide for an increase of $8.5 million for Geographic Programs, while providing decreases or flat funding in all other program areas.

FY2026 regular enacted appropriations for the S&T account of $744.2 million are $11.9 million (1.6%) less than FY2025 annual enacted appropriations of $756.1 million. Within the S&T account, three program areas—Indoor Air and Radiation, Pesticide Licensing, and National Priorities (including CDS/CPF)—increased compared to FY2025 enacted appropriations, while funding for all other program areas decreased or received flat funding.

FY2026 regular enacted appropriations for the Superfund account of $282.8 million are $255.0 million (47.4%) less than FY2025 annual enacted appropriations of $537.70 million. According to EPA's FY2026 Budget in Brief, the agency plans to use Superfund tax receipts for some Superfund activities in FY2026. The agency plans to use a projected $1.60 billion from tax receipts collected in FY2025 to partially or fully fund the Superfund Remedial program and the Emergency Response and Removal program.

Selected Policy Issues

Congress could consider several policy issues related to EPA appropriations, such as the implications of recent agency reorganization efforts and reductions-in-force for EPA's funding to implement its statutory responsibilities. In 2025, EPA announced plans to consolidate, transfer, add, and eliminate certain offices and programs. The agency created a new Office of Finance and Administration and eliminated the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. In February 2026, EPA notified Congress of the elimination of the Office of Research and Development and the transfer of its scientific and research functions to other program offices.

Members have expressed a range of views on EPA reorganization. For example, some have expressed concern regarding the impact of changes in offices and programs on EPA's use of appropriations to fulfill its obligations under more than 12 pollution control statutes. In the explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 119-74, the appropriation committees acknowledged EPA's reorganization plans and stated that, "The Committees expect that the Agency's mission and all statutory obligations will continue." Other Members have expressed support for reorganization efforts, citing the benefits of potential cost savings and increased efficiencies. In decisions on EPA FY2027 appropriations and for future fiscal years, Congress could consider how changes in EPA office structure and functions, staffing levels, and program implementation factor into decisions to increase, decrease, or maintain agency appropriations compared to FY2026. Congress could also consider whether the reorganization means distribution among EPA appropriations accounts should be changed.

Other appropriations policy issues of interest for Congress include, for example, how the end of IIJA advance appropriations after FY2026 could affect EPA's capacity to carry out its responsibilities, what share of Superfund cleanup funding should come from either appropriations or tax receipts, and potential funding issues for EPA research and development activities after the closure of ORD.