Contents

• Introduction
• EDA Program Overview
• EDA Appropriations, FY2017-FY2026
• Programs
• Administration Expenses
• Supplemental Appropriations
• EDA Priority Initiatives
• Disaster Economic Recovery Appropriations, FY2017-FY2026
• COVID-19 Economic Recovery Appropriations, FY2020-FY2021
• CARES Act, P.L. 116-136
• American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2
• EDA Priority Initiatives in Appropriations in FY2023
• Assistance to Energy Transition Communities, FY2017-FY2026
• The "Assistance to Energy Transition Communities" Term
• Tribal Economic Development, FY2021-FY2026
• Persistent Poverty
• FY2025 and FY2026 Annual Appropriations
• Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (P.L. 119-4)
• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-74)
• FY2027 Funding Request

Summary

The Economic Development Administration (EDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), is the only federal agency with economic development as its sole mission. The agency was established pursuant to the enactment of the Public Works and Economic Development Act (PWEDA) of 1965 (42 U.S.C. §§3121 et seq.), as amended, to assist state and local stakeholders with developing the conditions and amenities to grow businesses, create jobs, and expand investment in economically distressed areas. EDA administers grant programs that fund state and local economic development activities. Programs support infrastructure, workforce development, innovation, entrepreneurship, technical assistance, and long-term, regional economic development planning.

For decades, Congress has approved appropriations for the EDA annually for economic development assistance programs and administration expenses, as discussed in this report. Changing industry dynamics, global competition, technological developments, and other events, conditions, and factors have shifted EDA's priorities over time as well as the funding levels for its various programs. Congress has directed EDA to allocate funding to specific initiatives and priorities, such as communities affected by persistent poverty. Other recent congressionally driven initiatives include those supporting indigenous communities and those supporting communities affected by transitions in energy production. EDA also received supplemental appropriations for disaster economic recovery activities in 6 of the past 10 fiscal years (FYs) as its role in disaster economic recovery has expanded.

Between FY2017 and FY2026, EDA received approximately $12.1 billion (not adjusted for inflation) in total annual and supplemental appropriations. Of this amount, $3.8 billion was provided through annual appropriations acts (an average of about $380 million per year) and $8.3 billion was provided in supplemental appropriations acts.

Supplemental appropriations for EDA programs have supported recovery efforts following economic injury caused by disasters (including the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as funding for priority initiatives. Of the total amount of supplemental appropriations, EDA received $3.2 billion between FY2017 and FY2026 for disaster economic recovery activities following selected natural disasters and $4.5 billion for COVID-19 economic recovery activities. Supplemental appropriations for disaster recovery are generally provided to one of the agency's most flexible programs, the Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program. A notable non-disaster supplemental appropriation occurred in FY2023, when EDA received $618 million for the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) and Recompete Pilot programs (in addition to $500 million provided for disaster economic recovery through the EAA program).

The President's FY2027 budget requests $20 million for salaries and expenses to conduct an orderly closeout of the agency, $10 million less than the Administration requested for FY2026. Each of the annual budget requests under the first Trump Administration proposed eliminating the EDA as well.

Congress may consider the role of broad-based and/or targeted approaches to the allocation of economic development resources as well as the scale and scope of financial resources, workforce capacity, and authorities that may be needed to meet future needs and roles of the EDA.

Introduction

For decades, Congress has annually approved appropriations for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for economic development assistance programs as well as administration expenses. Congress has directed EDA to allocate funding to specific initiatives and priorities, such as communities affected by persistent poverty. Other congressionally driven initiatives include those supporting indigenous communities and communities affected by transitions in energy production. EDA received supplemental appropriations for disaster economic recovery activities in 6 of the past 10 fiscal years (FYs) as its role in disaster economic recovery has expanded. The Trump Administration proposed to eliminate the EDA in its FY2026 and FY2027 budget requests.

This report provides a broad overview of EDA programs and accounts with a focus on its appropriations history since FY2017. The review of appropriations includes an analysis of recent funding levels by program (see Figure 2) and EDA priority initiatives. This report concludes with a summary of FY2025 and FY2026 appropriations and the Administration's FY2027 Funding Request. Tables in the appendices provide detailed appropriations data for FY2017-FY2026.

EDA Program Overview

EDA administers grant programs that fund economic development activities, primarily through competitive processes that solicit community-directed proposals aligned with the agency's investment priorities.¹ The statutorily established priorities include critical infrastructure, workforce, innovation and entrepreneurship, economic recovery resilience, and manufacturing.² Programs support infrastructure, workforce development, innovation, entrepreneurship, technical assistance, and long-term, regional economic development planning activities. Many EDA grant programs are flexible and can be used for one or more activities.

Many EDA programs were established pursuant to the enactment of the Public Works and Economic Development Act (PWEDA) of 1965 (42 U.S.C. §§3121 et seq.), as amended, to assist state and local stakeholders with developing the conditions and amenities to grow businesses, create jobs, and expand investment in economically distressed areas. The following programs are authorized under the act and have received at least one annual funding allocation since FY2017:

• Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA), including the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC), Assistance to Nuclear Closure Communities (NCC), and Disaster Economic Recovery initiatives;
• Local Technical Assistance;
• Partnership Planning;
• Public Works;
• Research and National Technical Assistance (RNTA);
• University Centers (inactive);³ and
• Workforce Training.

The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. §§3701 et seq.), as amended, authorized other EDA programs. Except for the Recompete program, these programs are primarily focused on regional innovation objectives.⁴ The following programs are authorized under the act and have received at least one annual funding allocation since FY2017:

• Build to Scale (B2S),
• Recompete Pilot,
• Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs), and
• STEM Apprenticeships (inactive).⁵

The Trade Act of 1974, (19 U.S.C. §§2341 et seq.), as amended, authorized the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) program. The program received annual funding allocations in recent years but is no longer active. TAAF termination provisions took effect in 2022, and EDA is no longer accepting new petitions for TAAF.⁶

In January 2025, P.L. 118-272 reauthorized EDA and established new program authorities, including authorities for workforce training and critical supply chain site development grants (see Table 1).⁷

Prior to the enactment of P.L. 118-272, P.L. 117-167 authorized the Tech Hubs and Recompete Pilot programs. P.L. 117-167 authorized $10 billion over five years (FY2023-FY2027) to be appropriated for the Tech Hubs program and $1 billion over five years (FY2022-FY2026) for the Recompete program. To date, the Tech Hubs and Recompete programs have received approximately up to $1.1 billion and $218 million, respectively, in appropriated and other funding.

In FY2011, P.L. 111-358 authorized the B2S program and authorized to be appropriated $100 million for the program for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013.⁸ Since FY2017, the B2S program has received approximately $378 million in appropriated funding (see Table A-1).

EDA Appropriations, FY2017-FY2026

The annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations act provides funding for the EDA. EDA receives appropriations through accounts—programs (Economic Development Assistance Programs) and administration (Salaries and Expenses). Annual appropriations for EDA programs have typically been made available until expended ("no-year" appropriations). Funds provided through the Salaries and Expenses account are only available in the fiscal year for which they are provided.⁹

With a few exceptions, the amounts to be allocated for EDA programs are typically specified in the explanatory statements accompanying annual appropriations laws, which provide additional guidance from Congress to EDA. Language in explanatory statements may direct EDA to allocate a certain level of funding to further a type of activity (e.g., public works, research and evaluation) or to advance investments in certain areas or industries (e.g., aeronautics, persistent poverty areas, distressed areas, coal-impacted communities). For instance, for FY2024, Congress directed EDA to allocate $33.0 million to the Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program and $50.0 million to the B2S program. In FY2024, the explanatory statement also directed EDA to "invest in university based, high-tech business incubators to diversify distressed manufacturing communities and legacy urban and rural communities by encouraging entrepreneurship and patent creation, and promoting technology commercialization through business startups," and "to support the development of regional innovation clusters that focus on advanced wood products," among other instructions for funding.¹⁰

Between FY2017 and FY2026, EDA received $12.1 billion in total annual and supplemental appropriations (in nominal dollars, see Figure 1 and Table A-1). The funding provided between FY2017 and FY2026 is the equivalent of approximately $14.1 billion in 2026 dollars (inflation adjusted; see Table A-2).

Figure 1. Annual and Supplemental Appropriations, FY2017-FY2026 (in millions of nominal dollars)

Source: CRS using information from the reports accompanying appropriations bills. Notes: Annual appropriations include funding for programs and salaries and expenses. For the amounts provided each year by program or purpose, see Table A-1. Chart does not include funding provided by spectrum auction proceeds, which were authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of FY2025 (P.L. 118-159, Division E, Title LIV)—see textbox "Other Sources of EDA Funding in FY2025."

Between FY2017 and FY2026, EDA's annual appropriations (not including supplemental appropriations) averaged approximately $380.4 million (in nominal dollars). Annual appropriations increased slightly year-over-year from FY2017 to FY2022. The largest year-over-year change was an increase of $124.5 million (or 33%) in annual appropriations from FY2022 to FY2023 when it received $498.0 million. In FY2024, the agency received $468.0 million in annual appropriations—a decrease of $30.0 million (or 6%) from the annual appropriations provided in FY2023 (excluding supplemental appropriations). EDA funding decreased in FY2025 to $438.0 million and then increased to $466.0 million in FY2026. Funding in FY2025 would have been almost level with FY2024 amounts but for an emergency requirement of $30.0 million that was not designated in FY2025 (see "Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025").¹¹ Congress has provided $8.3 billion in supplemental appropriations between FY2017 and FY2026 (see "Supplemental Appropriations").

Programs

Figure 2 shows the annual appropriations allocated to major EDA programs between FY2017 and FY2026.¹² Congress has generally directed EDA to allocate the largest share of its annual appropriations to the Public Works program. Each fiscal year between 2017 and 2020, the second largest share of annual appropriations was directed to the EAA program. However, beginning in FY2021, the allocation for the B2S program exceeded the allocation for the EAA program. Congress has increased the amount provided to other programs in recent years as well. For instance, in each fiscal year between 2022 and 2024 and in 2026, Congress directed EDA to allocate a larger amount of funding to the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative than to the base EAA program. Congress directed EDA to set aside funding for coal-impacted communities beginning in FY2014 (i.e., through the ACC initiative and its precursors, using the EAA program authority).¹³ In FY2024, the amount of funding that Congress directed EDA to provide to the Public Works program decreased from its prior year's level for the first time since FY2013—see Figure 2 and Table A-1.

Figure 2. Annual Funding Amounts for EDA Programs, FY2017-FY2026 (in millions of nominal dollars; does not include EDA salaries and expenses or supplemental appropriations)

Source: FY2017-FY2024 and FY2026 amounts compiled by CRS using data from the conference reports and explanatory statements for annual appropriations. The FY2025 program amounts show EDA's FY2025 budget authority, by program, according to EDA's FY2027 Congressional Justification. See EDA, "FY2027 Congressional Justification," pp. 11-13, https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/FY2027-EDA-CJ-Submission.pdf. For a breakdown of funding amounts by program, by fiscal year, see Table A-1. Notes: Table does not show effect of recissions or transfers. Under the terms of the FY2025 continuing resolution, which otherwise provided funding at the same level as FY2024, emergency-designated funding would not be made available for use unless the President agreed to all such designations. He did not, so only $370 million was made available for EDA programs in FY2025. See H. Doc. No. 119-31, "Designation of Funding as an Emergency Requirement—Message from the President of the United States," Congressional Record, Daily Edition (March 24, 2025), vol. 171, no. 53, pp. H1214-H1215. In FY2025, EDA allocated funding to "Assistance to Energy Communities" and this amount is displayed as "Assist. to Coal Communities" in the figure. See EDA, "FY2027 Congressional Justification," p. 59.

Administration Expenses

For the FY2017-FY2026 period, annual appropriations for EDA Salaries and Expenses averaged $51.5 million. Amounts designated for administration expenses averaged about 13% of total appropriations (nominal dollars) during the FY2017-FY2026 period (see Table A-2).¹⁴ Following over a decade of appropriations that were under $44 million annually for Salaries and Expenses, EDA received $68.0 million in FY2023 for administration expenses, an increase of 56% from the amount provided in FY2022 ($43.5 million).

Supplemental Appropriations

Supplemental appropriations were provided to EDA in several of the years between FY2017 and FY2026 (see Table 2).¹⁵ Supplemental appropriations for EDA programs have supported recovery efforts following economic injury caused by disasters (including the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as funding for priority initiatives (i.e., the Tech Hubs and Recompete programs in FY2023). Most of these supplemental appropriations are designated as emergency requirements, which means they do not count against discretionary spending limits. EDA's distribution and allocation strategy for supplemental appropriations varies by each event or situation.¹⁶ Supplemental appropriations are generally provided to one of the agency's most flexible programs, the EAA program, except for funding provided by P.L. 117-328, Division N in FY2023 for the Tech Hubs and Recompete programs (see Table 2).

EDA Priority Initiatives

Congress has directed EDA to allocate funding to specific priorities and types of communities. For instance, EDA received supplemental disaster economic recovery appropriations in 6 of the past 10 fiscal years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2025). Congress also continues to express interest in tribal communities and persistent poverty areas as well as energy transition communities.

Disaster Economic Recovery Appropriations, FY2017-FY2026

Since FY2017, Congress has approved $3.2 billion in supplemental funding for economic recovery in response to selected natural disasters (see Table 2), including the following appropriations:

• In FY2018 and FY2019, supplemental appropriations provided $1.2 billion for assistance to communities affected by disasters that occurred in calendar years 2017-2019. According to EDA, all FY2018 and FY2019 funds have been awarded.¹⁷
• The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123) provided EDA with $600 million in additional EAA funds for disaster relief and in response to economic distress or harm resulting from federally declared natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2017. Of this amount, 2% of the funds could be transferred to pay for administration and oversight activities and $1 million was transferred to the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General (OIG).
• The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-20) provided EDA with $600 million in additional EAA funds for areas that received a Stafford Act major disaster declaration for an incident occurring in calendar year 2018, as well as for areas affected by tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019.¹⁸ Of the amount appropriated, 2% could be transferred for administration and oversight activities, and $1 million was transferred to the OIG.
• The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328, Division N) provided EDA with $500 million in additional EAA funds for areas that received a Stafford Act major disaster declaration for an incident occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022.¹⁹ Of the amount appropriated, 3% of funds could be transferred for administration and oversight activities, and $2 million was transferred to the OIG.
• In FY2025, the American Relief Act, 2025 (P.L. 118-158) provided $1.51 billion to EDA for disaster economic recovery, with $10 million of that amount transferred to the Delta Regional Authority (DRA).²⁰ P.L. 118-158 stated that the funding was "for economic adjustment assistance related to flood mitigation, disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure" in areas that received a Stafford Act major disaster declaration as a result of an incident occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. Of the amount appropriated, 3% of funds could be transferred for administration and oversight activities, and $7 million was transferred to the OIG. P.L. 118-158.

For additional information about EDA's administration of disaster recovery funding in FY2026, see CRS Insight IN12633, Economic Development Administration Disaster Economic Recovery Funding (P.L. 118-158) and CRS Insight IN12632, Delta Regional Authority Disaster Economic Recovery Funding (P.L. 118-158).

COVID-19 Economic Recovery Appropriations, FY2020-FY2021

EDA received $1.5 billion of supplemental appropriations through the CARES Act in FY2020, and $3 billion of supplemental appropriations through the American Recue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) in FY2021.²¹ The supplemental CARES Act funding was nearly five times the amount of EDA's FY2020 annual appropriation, and the ARP Act funding was over eight times the amount of EDA's FY2021 annual appropriation—see Table 2 and Table A-2.

CARES Act, P.L. 116-136

The types of projects supported through CARES Act recovery assistance included:

• economic recovery planning and preparing technical assistance strategies to address economic dislocations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;
• preparing or updating resiliency plans to respond to future pandemics;
• implementing entrepreneurial support programs to diversify economies;
• constructing public works and facilities aimed at supporting economic recovery, including the deployment of broadband to support telehealth and remote learning for job skills.

All geographic areas were eligible to apply for assistance under the "Special Need" criteria of the EAA program because of the widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.²² EDA used both competitive and non-competitive processes to distribute CARES Act funding. Activities that received funding through non-competitive processes included economic development districts (EDDs)²³ and tribal planning grantees, University Centers, and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) programs.²⁴ Of the amount appropriated, 2% of funds could be transferred for administration and oversight activities and $3 million was transferred to the DOC's OIG.

American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2

The ARP Act provided $3 billion to assist communities with COVID-19 recovery and resiliency strategies. These funds are available for economic adjustment assistance, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 conditions and for necessary expenses for responding to economic injury as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the amount appropriated, up to 2% could be used for "temporary Federal personnel as may be necessary" to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the pandemic. The funding for temporary federal personnel is to remain available until September 30, 2027. Of the amount appropriated, 25% was for states and communities that have been affected by the decline in the "travel, tourism, or outdoor recreation sectors." EDA administered ARP Act recovery assistance through the following six new grant programs, each with different investment criteria and priorities:²⁵

• the Build Back Better Regional Challenge;²⁶
• the Good Jobs Challenge;
• the EAA Program;
• the Indigenous Communities Challenge;
• the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Program; and
• the Statewide Planning, Research, and Networks Program.

EDA Priority Initiatives in Appropriations in FY2023

The CHIPS and Science Act (P.L. 117-167 §10621) authorized two new programs to be administered by EDA: the Tech Hubs program and the Recompete Pilot program. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) appropriated funding for both programs:

• $500 million for the Tech Hubs Program
• $41 million in annual appropriations in Division B, and
• $459 million in supplemental appropriations in Division N
• $200 million for the Recompete Pilot Program
• $41 million in annual appropriations in Division B, and
• $159 million in supplemental appropriations in Division N.²⁷

Assistance to Energy Transition Communities, FY2017-FY2026

Congress has signaled an interest in using the EDA to provide financial and technical assistance to communities affected by changes in the coal economy, nuclear plant closures, and biomass plant closures.²⁸

• Each year in FY2017 through FY2024 and FY2026, Congress directed EDA to provide additional funding through the EAA program to coal-impacted communities as a part of the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative.²⁹
• Each year in FY2020 through FY2023, Congress directed EDA to provide additional funding through the EAA program to the Assistance to Nuclear Closure Communities (NCC) initiative.³⁰
• Each year from FY2022 through FY2024 Congress directed EDA to provide funding ($4.5 million) through the EAA program to biomass power plant closure communities (BCC).³¹

Figure 4 charts the amounts of annual appropriations that EDA has allocated to the EAA, ACC, BCC, and NCC programs each year between FY2017 and FY2026.³² In FY2026, the funding for the ACC was double the amount allocated for the base EAA program.³³

Figure 4. EAA, ACC, NCC, and BCC Funding History, FY2017-FY2026 (in millions of nominal dollars)

Source: FY2017-FY2024 and FY2026 amounts compiled by CRS using data from the conference reports and explanatory statements for annual appropriations. The FY2025 program amounts show EDA's FY2025 budget authority, by program, according to EDA's FY2027 Congressional Justification. See EDA, "FY2027 Congressional Justification," pp. 11-13, https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/FY2027-EDA-CJ-Submission.pdf. For a breakdown of funding amounts by program, by fiscal year, see Table A-1. Notes: BCC = Biomass Closure Communities; NCC = Nuclear Closure Communities; ACC = Assistance to Coal Communities; and EAA = Economic Adjustment Assistance. Does not include supplemental appropriations. Congress has generally directed EDA to administer additional funding through the EAA program for coal communities for the ACC, NCC, and BCC initiatives. Each year in FY2020-FY2023, Congress directed EDA to administer additional funding through the EAA program for nuclear closure communities. Starting in FY2022, Congress further directed EDA to administer funding through the EAA program for biomass power plant closure communities (BCC). For FY2025, "Assistance to Energy Transition Communities" amounts are displayed as amounts for "Assistance to Coal Communities" in the figure. The EAA amount in FY2025 includes amounts transferred from "operations associated with the former Good Jobs Challenge" program, which is no longer active. See EDA, "FY2027 Congressional Justification," pp. 47, 59, https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/FY2027-EDA-CJ-Submission.pdf.

In FY2021, EDA allocated $300 million of the $3 billion appropriation from the ARP Act to coal-impacted communities through the Coal Communities Commitment (CCC); CCC funding is not included in Figure 4.³⁴

In 2025, EDRA (P.L. 118-272) codified EDA coal and nuclear host community initiatives under the existing EAA program and set an authorized funding level for economic development activities in these areas.³⁵

The "Assistance to Energy Transition Communities" Term

The "Assistance to Energy Transition Communities" term appeared in report language accompanying recent appropriations laws in the following ways

• In FY2022, report language included a new program line titled "Assistance to Energy Transition Communities" that combined the ACC, NCC, and BCC programs into one line and directed EDA to provide specific amounts each for coal, nuclear closure, and biomass communities;³⁶
• In FY2023, report language directed EDA to allocate funding to "Assistance to Energy Transition Communities" with specific amounts each for coal, nuclear closure, and biomass communities;³⁷ and
• In FY2025, appropriations were provided through continuing resolutions and EDA reported $75.0 million in budget authority for "Assistance to Energy Transition Communities."³⁸ As noted in Figure 4 above, the FY2025 "Assistance to Energy Transition Communities" amounts are displayed as "Assistance to Coal Communities."

Explanatory statements accompanying the FY2024 and FY2026 annual appropriations did not include the "Assistance to Energy Transition Communities" term:

• For FY2024, report language directed EDA to allocate $75.0 million to coal communities under the "Assistance to Coal Communities" line and $4.5 million under the "Assistance to Biomass Communities" line;³⁹ and
• For FY2026, report language directed EDA to allocate $80.0 million to coal communities under the "Assistance to Coal Communities" line.⁴⁰

Tribal Economic Development, FY2021-FY2026

In FY2021, EDA allocated $100 million in ARP Act funding to the EDA's Indigenous Communities program. Tribes, consortiums of tribes, and other entities that serve indigenous communities were eligible recipients.⁴¹ The Indigenous Communities program was EDA's first program developed specifically for Indigenous communities.⁴² In FY2024 and FY2026, Congress directed EDA to allocate $5 million of annual appropriations to Assistance to Indigenous Communities.⁴³ In FY2025, appropriations were provided through continuing resolutions and EDA reported $5.0 million in budget authority for "Assistance to Indigenous Communities."⁴⁴

Persistent Poverty

Beginning with several appropriations committee reports and explanatory statements in the 2010s, Congress has signaled an interest in prioritizing EDA funding for persistent poverty counties.⁴⁵ Congress has directed a portion of EDA assistance to areas that have experienced high unemployment or high poverty levels for a certain period of time through the "10-20-30" provision in recent appropriations bills.⁴⁶ The provision directs 10% of federal funds for specific programs to counties with 20% poverty rates or more for the past 30 years.⁴⁷ EDA applies the 10-20-30 provision to the Public Works and B2S programs.⁴⁸

FY2025 and FY2026 Annual Appropriations

Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (P.L. 119-4)

On March 15, 2025, the President signed into law, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (P.L. 119-4) providing continuing appropriations for the entire federal government, including EDA's programs and activities. P.L. 119-4 provided continuing appropriations for EDA for FY2025 at the same level of funding that was provided in the FY2024 CJS Appropriations Act (Division C of P.L. 118-42): $468 million, including $400 million for programs and $68 million for salaries and expenses. However, the FY2024 EDA appropriation included $30 million in EDA program funding that was designated as an emergency requirement. Under the terms of the FY2025 continuing resolution, which otherwise provided funding at the same level as FY2024, emergency-designated funding would not be made available for use unless the President agreed to all such designations. He did not, so $370 million was made available for EDA programs in FY2025.⁴⁹ For a summary of the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations' actions on FY2025 CJS appropriations bills (S. 2354 and H.R. 5342, respectively), see CRS Report R48134, Overview of FY2025 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS).

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-74)

On January 23, 2026, the President signed into law the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, (P.L. 119-74). Division A of P.L. 119-74—the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026—included appropriations for EDA for FY2026. P.L. 119-74 provided $466 million to the EDA ($400 million for programs and $66 million for salaries and expenses). For a summary of the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations' actions on FY2026 CJS appropriations bills (S. 2354 and H.R. 5342, respectively), see CRS Report R48643, Overview of FY2026 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS).

In the explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 119-74, Congress decreased the amount of funding allocated to certain long-standing programs and directed EDA to provide funding for several existing programs at the same or slightly higher levels than in prior appropriations measures. For instance, Congress decreased funding for the TAAF (now inactive) and Technical Assistance programs compared to FY2024 funding levels. Funding levels for the Public Works, EAA, ACC, Assistance to Indigenous Communities, Partnership Planning, STEM Talent Challenge (now inactive), Build to Scale, and Tech Hubs programs remained constant or increased slightly from FY2024 levels.⁵⁰ Congress also directed EDA to allocate funding to the Recompete program, which last received a funding allocation in FY2023, and directed EDA to provide $10 million for a "workforce training" program or initiative.⁵¹ P.L. 119-74 included a provision rescinding $60 million in unobligated balances from prior-year appropriations for economic development assistance programs.⁵²

FY2027 Funding Request

In its FY2027 budget request, the Trump Administration proposed to eliminate the EDA for the second consecutive year.⁵³ The President's FY2027 budget requests $20 million for salaries and expenses to conduct an orderly closeout of the agency (see Table A-2), $10 million less than the Administration requested for FY2026.⁵⁴ Each of the annual budget requests under the first Trump Administration proposed eliminating the EDA as well.

Appendix. Appropriations Tables

Anthony Cilluffo, Nathan James, and William Painter provided substantive edits and assistance in shaping the report's development.

Footnotes