Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
Click any stage to learn more about the legislative process.
Would provide FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, covering programs from FAA air traffic control and federal highway construction to Section 8 rental assistance vouchers and homeless shelters — collectively directing hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending.
The bill would also impose notable policy riders, including a ban on funds for New York City's congestion pricing program, prohibitions on California, Texas, and Minnesota rail projects, a block on enforcing a recent HUD rule requiring 30-day lease termination notice, and a requirement that agencies comply with a range of executive orders issued in early 2025.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would provide FY2026 appropriations for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and related agencies. Transportation highlights include $13.75 billion for FAA operations, a $62.66 billion obligation ceiling for federal-aid highway programs, and $14.64 billion in transit formula grants. HUD highlights include $31.27 billion for Section 8 voucher renewals, $16.73 billion for project-based rental assistance, $7.33 billion for public housing, and $4.16 billion for homeless assistance grants.
Beyond funding, the bill would bar use of any funds for New York City's congestion pricing program, prohibit funding for named California, Texas, and Minnesota rail projects, block enforcement of a December 2024 HUD rule requiring 30-day advance notice before lease terminations for nonpayment of rent, and constrain commercial truck speed-limiter rulemaking. Agencies would also be required to comply with numerous early-2025 executive orders, and new foster youth housing vouchers would be designated "The First Lady Melania Trump Youth Foster to Independence Initiative."
Key provisions
- 1Would appropriate $13,752,000,000 for FAA operations including air traffic control, aviation safety, commercial space transportation, and contract tower programs, with at least $279 million designated for contract tower operations.
- 2Would set a $62,657,105,821 obligation ceiling for federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs for FY2026, funded from the Highway Trust Fund.
- 3Would appropriate $31,267,941,000 for Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance voucher renewals and administration, plus a $4 billion advance available October 1, 2026.
- 4Would appropriate $4,158,000,000 for homeless assistance grants under the McKinney-Vento Act, including $3.858 billion for continuum of care programs and $290 million for emergency solutions grants.
- 5Would prohibit use of any funds for activities related to New York City's Central Business District Tolling Program (congestion pricing) or Priced Zones under the Value Pricing Pilot Program.
- 6Would bar federal funding for California's high-speed rail project under identified cooperative agreements, the Texas high-speed rail project (formerly Texas Central Railway), and Minnesota's Northern Lights Express intercity rail project.
- 7Would prohibit HUD from administering or enforcing the December 2024 final rule requiring landlords to give 30 days' advance notice before terminating assisted-housing leases for nonpayment of rent.
Who would be affected
Airlines, airports, and travelers served by FAA programs; state and local governments and contractors receiving highway and transit formula funds; the millions of low-income families holding Section 8 vouchers or living in public housing; homeless individuals served by continuum of care programs; Native American tribes receiving housing block grants; Amtrak and intercity rail passengers; maritime operators, shipyards, and port authorities; and landlords and tenants in HUD-assisted housing.
Why it matters
The appropriations levels in this bill directly set operating budgets and program capacities for the nation's largest transportation and housing programs. Section 8 renewal funding levels determine how many families retain rental assistance; FAA funding affects controller hiring and aviation safety; and the policy riders — blocking congestion pricing, named rail projects, and a tenant-protection rule — would have immediate, concrete effects on those programs and the populations they serve.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) (Sec. 239)
Sec. 239 creates new authority allowing public housing agencies to modify tenant payment, rental payment, and housing assistance payment amounts notwithstanding existing Act formulas, with a 7-year protection on granted authority.
Amends Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58)
Multiple provisions rescind and transfer unobligated IIJA appropriations, redirecting prior-year highway, FAA, intercity rail, and maritime balances to new accounts and purposes.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- HUD tenant-based rental assistance: $4 billion advance tranche available
- HUD project-based rental assistance: $400 million advance tranche available
- Second HUD tenant-based rental assistance advance tranche available
- Second HUD project-based rental assistance advance tranche available
Funding and costs
- $13,752,000,000
FAA operations including air traffic control, aviation safety, and commercial space transportation
- $6,000,000,000
FAA facilities and equipment acquisition, improvement, and modernization
- $62,657,105,821
Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs (obligation ceiling)
- $14,642,000,000
Federal transit formula grants for public transportation systems nationwide
- $31,267,941,000
Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance voucher renewals and agency administration
- $16,726,800,000
Section 8 project-based rental assistance contract renewals and amendments
- $7,334,257,000
Public housing fund for operating subsidies and capital improvements
- $5,641,731,519
Community development fund including CDBG formula grants and Economic Development Initiative community project grants
- $4,158,000,000
Homeless assistance grants under McKinney-Vento Act, including continuum of care and emergency solutions programs
- $1,387,614,000
Amtrak National Network grants for intercity and long-distance rail service
- $924,970,000
Amtrak Northeast Corridor grants for infrastructure and capital improvements
- $295,600,000
Lead hazard reduction grants and healthy homes initiative
- $150,000,000
Capital and preventive maintenance grants to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
How implementation would work
Each agency executes its appropriation through normal budget procedures. HUD must notify formula grantees of their allocations within 60 days of enactment for several programs. The FAA administrator must submit staffing and hiring reports within 60 days of the budget submission or face a $100,000-per-day funding reduction. DOT must provide 3-business-day advance notice to Appropriations committees before announcing discretionary grant awards. Amtrak individual employee overtime is capped at $35,000. Section 405 reprogramming rules govern agency flexibility to move funds, requiring committee approval for changes above defined thresholds.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 172.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies.
The bill provides appropriations to DOT for
- the Office of the Secretary,
- the Federal Aviation Administration,
- the Federal Highway Administration,
- the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,
- the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
- the Federal Railroad Administration,
- the Federal Transit Administration,
- the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation,
- the Maritime Administration,
- the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and
- the Office of Inspector General.
The bill provides appropriations to HUD for
- Management and Administration,
- Public and Indian Housing,
- Community Planning and Development,
- Housing Programs,
- the Federal Housing Administration,
- the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae),
- Policy Development and Research,
- Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity,
- the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes,
- the Information Technology Fund, and
- the Office of Inspector General.
The bill also provides appropriations to several related agencies, including
- the Access Board,
- the Federal Maritime Commission,
- the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Office of Inspector General,
- the National Transportation Safety Board,
- the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, and
- the Surface Transportation Board.
Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.
Legislative subjects
Access Board; Alabama; Alaska Natives and Hawaiians; Appropriations; Arizona; Arkansas; Aviation and airports; California; Community life and organization; Computer security and identity theft; Computers and information technology; Connecticut; Department of Housing and Urban Development; Department of Transportation; Economic development; Economics and Public Finance; Education programs funding; Emergency planning and evacuation; Employment and training programs; Executive agency funding and structure; Federal Maritime Commission; Florida; Georgia; Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae); Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises; Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management; Government lending and loan guarantees; Government trust funds; Great Lakes; Hazardous wastes and toxic substances; Higher education; Homelessness and emergency shelter; Housing and community development funding; Housing discrimination; Housing finance and home ownership; Housing for the elderly and disabled; Housing industry and standards; Indian social and development programs; Infectious and parasitic diseases; Infrastructure development; Intergovernmental relations; Kentucky; Lakes and rivers; Landlord and tenant; Licensing and registrations; Low- and moderate-income housing; Marine and inland water transportation; Maryland; Massachusetts; Metals; Minnesota; Mississippi; Motor carriers; Motor vehicles; National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB); Navigation, waterways, harbors; Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York State; North Carolina; Ohio; Oil and gas; Pennsylvania; Pipelines; Public contracts and procurement; Public housing; Public transit; Puerto Rico; Railroads; Regional and metropolitan planning; Research administration and funding; Research and development; Residential rehabilitation and home repair; Rhode Island; Roads and highways; Rural conditions and development; South Carolina; State and local government operations; Surface Transportation Board; Tennessee; Transportation employees; Transportation programs funding; Transportation safety and security; User charges and fees; Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs; Virginia; Washington State; West Virginia
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-212