Making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.

1. Overview

Division A of this omnibus appropriations bill, titled the "Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026," funds the Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and related agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Legal Services Corporation. Its overall purpose is to support economic development and trade promotion, law enforcement and federal prisons, scientific research and space exploration, civil rights enforcement, and grants to state and local governments.

2. Total Spending

The total appropriation amount is not discernible as a single figure from the text, which lists funding across hundreds of accounts, subaccounts, offsets (e.g., fees), transfers, and references to separate explanatory statements for precise allocations (e.g., community projects). Major accounts total tens of billions of dollars.

3. Key Funding Areas

• Federal Bureau of Investigation - Salaries and Expenses: $10.609 billion — for crime detection, investigation, and prosecution activities.
• Federal Prison System - Salaries and Expenses: $8.1 billion — for operating federal prisons, including First Step Act programs.
• NASA - Exploration: $7.783 billion — for human spaceflight development, including Space Launch System, Orion crew vehicle, and Human Landing System (available until September 30, 2027).
• National Science Foundation - Research and Related Activities: $7.176 billion — for science grants, polar research, and operations (available until September 30, 2027).
• NASA - Science: $7.25 billion — for Earth science, planetary science, astrophysics, and heliophysics research (available until September 30, 2027).
• NOAA - Operations, Research, and Facilities: $4.54 billion — for weather forecasting, fisheries management, satellite operations, and climate research (available until September 30, 2027; plus transfers).
• United States Patent and Trademark Office - Salaries and Expenses: $4.956 billion — for patent examinations and trademark registrations (fully offset by fees, available until expended).
• NOAA - Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction: $1.577 billion — for satellites, ships, aircraft, and facilities (available until September 30, 2028 or expended).
• NIST - Scientific and Technical Research and Services: $1.249 billion — for standards, measurements, and research labs (available until expended).
• Office of Justice Programs - State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance: $2.4 billion — for Byrne grants, victim services, reentry programs, and opioid initiatives (available until expended).

4. Notable Provisions

• Rescinds $694.2 million in unobligated prior-year balances from Commerce and Justice accounts by September 30, 2026 (Sec. 521), excluding certain congressionally directed spending.
• Prohibits use of funds for abortions except where the mother's life is endangered or in cases of rape/incest; bars requiring employees to perform or facilitate abortions (Secs. 202-204).
• Limits reprogrammings and transfers to 5-10% of accounts with 30-day notice to Congress (Sec. 505); requires spending plans within 45 days of enactment (Sec. 528).
• Allocates CHIPS Act funds: Commerce directs ~$1 billion+ to NIST semiconductor programs; NSF to workforce training (Sec. 541).
• Bars NASA/OSTP bilateral activities with China unless authorized by law post-enactment, with FBI consultation and congressional notice (Sec. 526).
• Prohibits funding transfers related to Guantanamo detainees or new U.S. facilities for them (Secs. 538-539).
• No funds to move ATF Canine Training Center from Front Royal, VA (Sec. 543); transfers $507 million from IIJA to NOAA operations (Sec. 544).

5. Who Benefits

Primary beneficiaries include federal agencies (e.g., FBI, NOAA, USPTO, NIST, NASA, NSF bureaus); state/local law enforcement and governments via ~$3+ billion in grants (Byrne JAG, COPS, violence against women programs); federal prisons and inmates (reentry, First Step Act); scientists, universities, and researchers; businesses (patents, trade/export aid, manufacturing extension); minority-owned enterprises; coastal communities and fisheries; victims of crime/violence; and rural/persistent poverty areas via economic development grants.

6. Plain English Summary

Hey neighbor, this section of the big federal spending bill hands out cash for FY2026 to keep the government running in trade, cops, courts, prisons, weather satellites, space rockets, and basic science research—think $10 billion for the FBI to chase bad guys, $8 billion to run federal jails, over $20 billion total for NASA and NSF to explore space and fund labs, and billions more for NOAA's hurricanes-and-fish work plus grants to local police and economic aid for struggling towns. It includes rules like no taxpayer money for most abortions, cuts $700 million in old unspent funds, blocks NASA from cozying up to China without OKs, and shifts some infrastructure cash to NOAA and NTIA programs.

1. Overview

Division B funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (civil works programs under the Department of the Army), the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project, the Department of Energy (including energy research, nuclear activities, defense programs, and power marketing), and independent agencies like regional development commissions and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Its overall purpose is to support water infrastructure (flood control, rivers, harbors, dams), energy research and development, nuclear security and cleanup, and economic development in underserved regions.

2. Total Spending

The total appropriation amount is not explicitly stated or summed in the text. Major accounts total tens of billions of dollars across agencies (e.g., roughly $10.4 billion for Corps of Engineers, over $50 billion for Department of Energy including defense activities, $1.6 billion for Bureau of Reclamation). No prior-year or request context is provided for comparison.

3. Key Funding Areas

• Operation and Maintenance (Corps of Engineers): $6.01 billion — upkeep of rivers, harbors, flood control projects, security, dredging, and emergency response; includes $3.25 billion from Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.
• Weapons Activities (DOE National Nuclear Security Administration): $20.38 billion — atomic energy defense weapons programs, plant construction, and maintenance.
• Science (DOE): $8.4 billion — research facilities, equipment, and basic science activities.
• Defense Environmental Cleanup (DOE): $7.375 billion — cleanup of atomic energy defense sites and facilities.
• Construction (Corps of Engineers): $3.17 billion — building flood/storm damage reduction, shore protection, ecosystem restoration; includes trust fund contributions.
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE): $3.1 billion — energy-saving tech, renewables, plant/equipment acquisition.
• Water and Related Resources (Bureau of Reclamation): $1.466 billion — water management, dam operations, Native American responsibilities, grants.
• Nuclear Energy (DOE): $1.785 billion — nuclear power research, development, and facilities.
• Mississippi River and Tributaries (Corps): $532 million — flood damage reduction in the Mississippi alluvial valley.
• Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DOE NNSA): $2.37 billion — preventing nuclear proliferation, facility security.

4. Notable Provisions

• Reprogramming restrictions (Secs. 101, 201, 301, 402): Strict limits on shifting funds between programs/projects without congressional approval; detailed thresholds by account (e.g., 15% for Corps construction over $2M base).
• Work plan requirements: Corps and Assistant Secretary cannot deviate from plans submitted to Congress (multiple provisos).
• Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund allocations: Specific uses for coastal/inland harbors, donor/energy ports (e.g., $416.8 million).
• Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (WIFIA) program: $2.2 million for dam/levee safety loans up to $500 million in guarantees; new rulemaking for non-Federal levees; excludes federally owned/jointly owned dams.
• Transfers from prior laws (Sec. 311): Repurposes ~$5.2 billion in unobligated Inflation Reduction Act/IIJA funds to nuclear reactors, grid supply chain, and other energy programs.
• Dredging restrictions (Sec. 105): No open lake placement of Lake Erie dredged material without state water quality certification.
• Loan guarantee limits (Title 17): $150 million for advanced nuclear reactors; prohibits federal support dependencies.
• Nuclear access ban (Sec. 308): No Russian/Chinese non-citizens at nuclear weapons facilities without 30-day notice.
• Entity of concern restriction (Sec. 307): No grants/contracts ≥$10 million to Chinese/Russian-linked entities.

5. Who Benefits

• Communities and infrastructure: Flood-prone areas, ports, rivers (e.g., Mississippi Valley), Western water users (farms, cities, tribes via Reclamation).
• Energy sector and national security: Nuclear labs, utilities, researchers, defense sites; power marketing benefits Pacific Northwest/Southeast/Southwest ratepayers.
• Regional economies: Appalachia ($200 million), Delta/Northern Border/Southeast Crescent/Southwest Border commissions; Alaska (Denali), Great Lakes.
• Specific groups: Non-federal dam/levee owners (WIFIA loans), small businesses/tribes (energy programs), science community ($8.4 billion DOE Science).

6. Plain English Summary

This chunk of the bill is like the government's check for keeping our rivers, dams, and floods in check—about $10 billion to the Army Corps for fixing harbors, fighting floods, and maintaining waterways nationwide—plus $1.5 billion to the Bureau of Reclamation for Western water projects. It pours over $50 billion into the Energy Department for everything from renewable energy research and nuclear weapons upkeep ($20 billion just for that) to cleaning up old atomic sites and basic science labs. Toss in funds for regional economic boosts in places like Appalachia or the Delta, and watchdogs like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Lots of rules to prevent money-shuffling without Congress's okay, and some targeted loans for safer dams—basically keeping the lights on, waters flowing safely, and nukes secure without big surprises.

1. Overview

Division C funds the Department of the Interior (including bureaus like Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Geological Survey, Indian Affairs, and others), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Forest Service, Indian Health Service, and related agencies such as the Smithsonian Institution and National Endowment for the Arts. Its overall purpose is to support management and protection of public lands and natural resources, wildlife conservation, national parks operations, environmental research and cleanup, tribal health and education services, wildfire suppression, and cultural/arts programs.

2. Total Spending

The division does not state a single grand total appropriation. Major accounts total approximately $28.5 billion across bureaus and agencies (e.g., $4.4 billion for EPA State and Tribal Assistance Grants alone), with many funds available multi-year or until expended. No prior-year comparison is provided in the text.

3. Key Funding Areas

• National Park Service—Operation of the National Park System: $2.877 billion — funds management, operation, protection, and maintenance of national parks, including $148 million for maintenance/repair and $158 million for cyclic maintenance.
• EPA—State and Tribal Assistance Grants: $4.410 billion — capitalization grants for clean water ($1.639 billion) and drinking water ($1.126 billion) revolving funds, plus brownfields, border infrastructure, and tribal programs.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs—Operation of Indian Programs: $1.933 billion — tribal operations, welfare assistance, housing, roads, and land acquisition.
• Bureau of Land Management—Management of Lands and Resources: $1.260 billion — land protection, resource management, wild horse/burro program ($144 million), and mining administration.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—Resource Management: $1.452 billion — conservation, studies, and endangered species activities (with $14 million cap on certain ESA implementations).
• U.S. Geological Survey—Surveys, Investigations, and Research: $1.420 billion — topography, geology, hydrology, and mineral/water resource studies.
• Forest Service—National Forest System: $1.858 billion — management, protection, fuels reduction ($177 million), and forest products ($39 million).
• Bureau of Indian Education—Operation of Indian Education Programs: $1.132 billion — operation of schools and education programs for Native Americans.
• Department of the Interior—Wildland Fire Management: $1.147 billion — preparedness, suppression ($384 million available until expended), and fuels management ($214 million).
• Indian Health Service—Indian Health Services: $4.790 billion (FY2027 availability) — healthcare delivery, purchased care ($997 million), and loan repayment.

4. Notable Provisions

• Community project funding (Congressionally Directed Spending) is incorporated throughout (e.g., $19 million for FWS stewardship, $3 million for BLM land priorities, $21 million for NPS construction), detailed in referenced explanatory statement tables.
• Caps and restrictions: $14 million limit on certain Endangered Species Act implementations (FWS); no new sage-grouse ESA listings; staffing maintenance mandates for BLM, FWS, NPS, USGS, and Forest Service to protect resources and consult tribes.
• Multi-year funds and offsets: Many accounts reduced by collected fees (e.g., BLM mining fees, BOEM/BSEE cost recovery); wildfire suppression reserve funds ($370 million DOI, $2.48 billion Forest Service) transferable with notifications.
• Tribal priorities: Contract support costs and tribal leases funded at "such sums as necessary"; IHS flexibility for accreditation emergencies ($58 million).
• Policy riders: American iron/steel requirements for water projects; no EPA regulation of livestock GHG emissions or lead in ammo; extensions for grazing permits, facility realignments, and botanical fees.
• Land/Water Conservation Fund allocations strictly detailed by project tables; National Parks Legacy Restoration Fund projects require committee-approved lists.

5. Who Benefits

• Federal land management agencies (BLM, FWS, NPS, USGS, Forest Service) for operations, maintenance, and resource protection.
• Native American tribes, schools, and health facilities via BIA ($1.933 billion programs), BIE ($1.133 billion education), and IHS ($5.8 billion facilities/health services).
• States, tribes, and local communities through EPA revolving funds ($4.4 billion water infrastructure), brownfields ($98 million), and geographic programs.
• National parks visitors, wildlife habitats, rural firefighters, and public via wildfire suppression ($3.9 billion total reserves) and recreation/preservation.
• Cultural institutions (Smithsonian, arts endowments) and underserved/urban/minority communities through grants and heritage programs.

6. Plain English Summary

Hey neighbor, this chunk of the big spending bill—about $28 billion total—pays for our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and public lands so rangers can keep trails open, fight wildfires, and protect animals. It funds clean water projects in states and tribes ($4.4 billion), helps Native American health clinics and schools ($7+ billion), and covers EPA cleanups plus Forest Service timber/forest health work. There are rules like no new sage-grouse endangered listings, community-specific projects lawmakers picked, and fees offsetting some costs, all to keep lands safe, waters clean, and tribes supported without big policy shifts.