Washington – Today the House Interior Subcommittee released its appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill. The proposed spending legislation includes substantial cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) – the primary source of federal funding for our nation’s water and wastewater systems. 

This legislation would cut overall funding for the EPA by 23 percent (more than $2 billion), including major cuts to clean water programs. The proposal would cut the SRFs by nearly 25 percent ($662 million), from $2.8 billion to $2.1 billion – the lowest levels since 2008. The House has restored funding to Congressionally designated community projects, or earmarks, which had been eliminated in the Continuing Resolution for FY2025. Half of the proposed $2.1 billion would be set aside for 912 water and wastewater infrastructure projects requested by 292 Congress members.

House Republicans have rejected Trump’s proposal to virtually eliminate these critical water funds. The White House had proposed a nearly 90 percent cut to the programs with a plan to zero them out in the future. The House’s proposal for ongoing funding, with a substantial amount dedicated for community projects, demonstrates the necessity of and bipartisan support for these programs to fund local safe water and clean water upgrades. 

The House proposal would provide $1.2 billion for the Clean Water SRF (down from the current $1.6 billion) and $895 million for the Drinking Water SRF (down from $1.1 billion). These massive cuts come at a time when the needs of our nation’s water and wastewater systems are substantial and growing. According to the latest needs survey of the U.S. EPA, upgrading our water and wastewater infrastructure will cost $1.3 trillion over the next two decades just to comply with existing federal law. 

In response, Mary Grant, water program director at Food & Water Watch, issued the following statement:

“Once again, House Republicans are seeking reckless cuts that undermine safe and clean water for millions of people across the country. Local communities in every state rely on these Revolving Fund programs to make critical improvements to keep water and sewer systems safe and reliable. In addition to threatening water safety, these proposed cuts would exacerbate the nation’s water affordability crisis – adding more pressure on household water bills at a time when families are already grappling with soaring utility costs.

“The Senate must reject this proposal out of hand and commit to fully funding our critical water programs. Safe, clean water is non-negotiable. Congress must pass the WATER Act (HR 3376, S 1730) to safeguard federal water funding from these foolishly political annual appropriations battles.”