Congress entered the August recess having accomplished a fraction of what was needed to complete the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) appropriations process before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2025. The House Appropriations Committee approved 9 of its 12 bills and the full House approved 2 of its 12 appropriations bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved 8 of its 12 appropriations bills and the full Senate approved 3 of its 12 appropriations bills. It is important to note that the House appropriations process has been highly partisan, while the Senate process is more bipartisan.
In this series of blog posts, we detail funding levels and highlights from the President’s Budget Request and the FY26 House and Senate appropriations bills for Earth and space sciences.
If you are interested in engaging your legislators on these issues this August, check out our August Action Days looking for opportunities and resources.
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
| CHANGE SINCE FY2025
(funding in millions) |
Enacted for FY25 | FY26 PBR | FY26 House | FY26 Senate |
| USGS (top line) | $1,450.20 | $891.56
(-38.5%) |
$1,368.39
(-5.6%) |
$1,485.35
(2.4%) |
| Ecosystems | $299.38 | $0
(-100%) |
$289.78
(-3.2%) |
$307.95
(2.9%) |
| Energy and mineral resources | $101.09 | $137.07
(35.6%) |
$104.68
(3.6%) |
$110.59
(9.4%) |
| Natural hazards | $198.64 | $136.53
(-31.3%) |
$190.57
(-4.1%) |
$209.44
(0.5%) |
| Water resources | $288.77 | $223.82
(-22.5%) |
$285.21
(-1.2%) |
$291.80
(5.4%) |
| Basic scientific systems | $273.22 | $165.04
(-39.6%) |
$283.22
(3.7%) |
$279.72
(1.1%) |
| Scientific support | $105.00 | $80.00
(-23.8%) |
$82.47
(-21.5%) |
$105.00
(0%) |
| Facilities | $184.10 | $149.10
(-19.0%) |
$132.49
(-28.0%) |
$180.10
(-2.2%) |
HIGHLIGHTS
President’s Budget Request (PBR):
- Eliminates the Ecosystems mission area, including Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
- Creates a new Geology, Energy and Minerals mission area to advance critical mineral supply chain analysis.
- As of July 28, 2025, the Administration has not released the full proposed budget for the USGS.
House bill:
- It maintains funding at the level of at least fiscal year 2025 for the Scientific Centers for Climate Adaptation and the Ecosystems mission area, rejecting its proposal for elimination by the Administration.
- The USGS must report within 90 days on mechanisms to stabilize domestic markets for rare earth minerals and hard rocks, and identify additional authorities or resources needed to expand mineral supply science.
- The administrative language maintains long-standing restrictions and preserves USGS authority over topographic mapping and water resources investigations.
- No separate construction account is provided for the USGS. Infrastructure needs should be addressed through programmatic allocations or interagency transfers.
Senate bill:
- Rejects the removal of the Ecosystems mission area and provides $4.75 million for harmful algal bloom research, $1 million for PFAS studies on ceded tribal lands, and full funding for the Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
- Improves critical mineral mapping and geothermal resource assessments in Alaska and Hawaii, supporting US supply chain resilience.
- Funds the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system with $36.9 million (plus $4 million to expand it to Alaska) and $3.4 million for subduction zone science.
- Adds $2 million for improved Earth imagery datasets and $3 million for geospatial program modernization.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science and Technology
| CHANGE SINCE FY2025
(funding in millions) |
Enacted for FY25 | FY26 PBR | FY26 House | FY26 Senate |
| EPA (top line) | $9,136.67 | $4,161.00
(-54.5%) |
$7,012.79
(-23.3%) |
$8,641.65
(-5.4%) |
| Science and technology | $756.07 | $500.78
(-33.8%) |
$522.41
(-30.9%) |
$742.60
(-1.8%) |
| Environmental Programs and Management | $3,195.03 | $2,481.70
(-22.3%) |
$2,272.08
(-28.9%) |
$2,869.08
(-10.2%) |
HIGHLIGHTS
President’s Budget Request (PBR):
- In the case of Clean Air, the request cancels the Atmospheric Protection Program.
- Eliminates Technical Assistance Grants for Clean and Safe Water, the Indoor Air: Radon Program, and the Indoor Air Hazard Reduction Program.
- Increases funding for the Homeland Security Research Program to help communities prepare for, endure, and recover from disasters.
- Reduces EPA’s Air and Energy (AE) Research Program by approximately two-thirds and the Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS) Research Program by approximately one-quarter.
- Cuts EPA’s Sustainable Healthy Communities (SHC) Research Program in half.
House bill:
- The Science and Technology Account, which funds all EPA research activities, including basic studies of air, water, and chemical hazards, is cut by nearly 31%.
- Encourages partnerships with non-federal entities to advance understanding of wildfire smoke impacts on air quality.
- Provides $35 million for competitive grants to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance on water quality, drinking water, wastewater treatment for small and rural systems, and private well safety.
- The new administrative language authorizes the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and the Office of Water to directly hire students or recent graduates (without standard procurement rules) to address delays in chemical/pesticide review, groundwater research, and oversight of community project funding.
Senate bill:
- Directs EPA to stop all actions related to closing, reducing, or reorganizing the Office of Research and Development and directs that any such proposals must be submitted to Congress in the President’s FY 2027 budget request.
- Provides $138.6 million for Clean Air and $33.9 million for Homeland Security office work
Within the Inquiry, the Senate recommends $94 million for air, climate and energy research; $124.5 million for chemical safety and sustainability; $109.27 million for safe and sustainable water resources; and $19.5 million for national priorities.
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