Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
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Would provide FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, NASA, the National Science Foundation, and related agencies — funding the FBI, federal prisons, scientific research, patent administration, and dozens of law enforcement grant programs totaling tens of billions of dollars.
The bill also includes scores of policy riders that would block spending on diversity and equity programs, freeze enforcement of multiple ATF firearms rules, bar DOJ from suing states over abortion and transgender laws, restrict NASA from cooperating with China, and prohibit marijuana rescheduling — making it one of the more contested annual spending bills.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would appropriate FY2026 funding for the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, NASA, the National Science Foundation, and related agencies. Major allocations include $10.1 billion for the FBI, $9.7 billion for NASA exploration, $8.8 billion for the Federal Prison System, roughly $5 billion for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (mostly fee-funded), $6.4 billion for NSF research, $4.15 billion for NOAA operations, $2.8 billion each for the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Attorneys, and $2.25 billion for state and local law enforcement assistance grants.
Beyond funding, the bill would impose dozens of policy riders prohibiting spending on DEI programs and Critical Race Theory training, blocking enforcement of multiple ATF firearms rules finalized after January 2021, barring DOJ from suing states over abortion and transgender laws, restricting NASA bilateral cooperation with China without FBI certification, and prohibiting use of funds to reschedule marijuana. It would also permanently rescind over $636 million in prior-year unobligated balances from Commerce and Justice accounts.
Key provisions
- 1Would appropriate FY2026 operating funds for Commerce, Justice, NASA, NSF, and related agencies, including $10.1B for the FBI, $9.7B for NASA exploration, $8.8B for the Federal Prison System, and $6.4B for NSF research.
- 2Would provide $640.5M for Violence Against Women programs and $2.25B for state and local law enforcement assistance, funding drug courts, reentry programs, DNA forensics, juvenile justice, and school violence prevention grants.
- 3Would prohibit funds from enforcing multiple ATF rules on stabilizing braces, ghost guns, the expanded dealer definition, and any ATF regulation finalized on or after January 21, 2021.
- 4Would ban funding for all agency diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and prohibit spending on Critical Race Theory training or programs across all funded departments and agencies.
- 5Would bar NASA, OSTP, and the National Space Council from bilateral cooperation with China or Chinese-owned companies unless the FBI certifies the activity poses no national security or technology-transfer risk.
- 6Would prohibit DOJ from suing states over abortion laws, transgender laws, or border security measures, and would defund DOJ's Reproductive Rights Task Force.
- 7Would permanently rescind over $636 million in prior-year unobligated balances from Commerce and Justice accounts, including VAWA, COPS, state and local law enforcement, and ATF accounts.
Who would be affected
Federal agencies and their employees receiving FY2026 operating funds; state and local governments receiving law enforcement and justice grants; gun dealers and firearm owners affected by suspended ATF rules; universities and contractors receiving Commerce, NASA, and NSF research grants; immigrants in removal proceedings; and low-income individuals served by the Legal Services Corporation.
Why it matters
If enacted, the appropriations would fund day-to-day federal law enforcement, scientific research, and patent operations for the fiscal year. The policy riders would have immediate practical effect: ATF could not enforce several post-2021 firearms rules, DOJ could not fund DEI offices or sue states over abortion law, and NASA bilateral cooperation with Chinese entities would be effectively frozen without FBI clearance.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (Sec. 613)
Expands successor-in-interest eligibility for Cuba property claims, adds a successor-in-interest definition, applies changes retroactively to pending and dismissed cases, and repeals section 305.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- All FY2026 appropriations for covered agencies
- Agency spending plans due to appropriations committees
- CHIPS Act fund allocations by Commerce and NSF
- Prior-year balance rescissions must be completed
Funding and costs
- $10,100,437,000
FBI salaries and expenses for detection, investigation, and prosecution of federal crimes
- $9,715,800,000
NASA exploration research and development, including Space Launch System and Orion crew vehicle
- $8,779,800,000
Federal Prison System administration and operations, including First Step Act programs
- $6,373,000,000
NSF research and related activities, including polar research and U.S. Antarctic program
- $6,000,000,000
NASA science research and development activities
- $4,993,670,000
USPTO salaries and expenses, offset by fee collections estimated to reduce general fund appropriation to $0
- $4,151,800,000
NOAA operations, research, and facilities, plus $409,640,000 transfer from fisheries fund
- $4,150,000,000
NASA space operations research and development
- $3,044,000,000
NASA safety, security, and mission services
- $2,813,924,000
Drug Enforcement Administration salaries, expenses, and drug education programs
- $2,780,410,000
U.S. Attorneys offices salaries, expenses, and human trafficking task forces
- $2,538,000,000
Federal prisoner detention costs for persons in U.S. Marshals Service custody
- $2,246,460,000
State and local law enforcement assistance grants including Byrne JAG, victim services, DNA programs, and opioid reduction
- $1,722,578,000
U.S. Marshals Service salaries and expenses
- $1,589,899,000
NOAA procurement, acquisition, and construction of capital assets including vessels and satellites
- $1,388,000,000
Bureau of the Census periodic censuses and programs
- $1,207,350,000
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives salaries and expenses
- $980,000,000
NIST scientific and technical research and services
- $912,827,000
NASA space technology research and development
- $896,936,000
DOJ general legal activities including litigation support and Civil Rights Division
- $844,000,000
Executive Office for Immigration Review administration of immigration courts
- $775,000,000
NASA aeronautics research and development
- $654,138,000
Community Oriented Policing Services programs including officer hiring, school safety, and methamphetamine enforcement
- $640,500,000
Violence Against Women prevention and prosecution programs, transitional housing, and tribal justice grants
- $435,382,000
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission salaries, expenses, and state agency payments
- $400,000,000
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigations and prosecutions
- $355,000,000
NSF agency operations and award management
- $327,000,000
Juvenile justice programs including youth mentoring, missing children, and child abuse services
- $310,000,000
DOJ Antitrust Division, offset by Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger notification fees
- $305,520,000
Federal Prison System buildings and facilities construction and renovation
- $300,000,000
Legal Services Corporation for basic civil legal aid to low-income clients
- $256,500,000
Economic Development Administration grants for regional economic development and technology innovation
- $251,000,000
NSF major research equipment and facilities construction
- $200,000,000
NASA construction and environmental compliance and restoration
How implementation would work
Covered agencies would submit signed spending plans to the House and Senate appropriations committees within 45 days of enactment. Any reprogramming exceeding $500,000 or 10 percent of an account requires 15-day advance notice to those committees. Quarterly balance reports are required from Commerce, Justice, NASA, and NSF. CHIPS Act allocations must be made within 45 days. Grant recipients must certify federal tax compliance before receiving contracts or grants above $5 million. The Departments of Commerce and Justice must report on completed rescissions to Congress no later than September 1, 2026.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 228.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the science agencies, and several related agencies.
The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Commerce for
- the International Trade Administration,
- the Bureau of Industry and Security,
- the Economic Development Administration,
- the Minority Business Development Agency,
- Economic and Statistical Analysis,
- the Bureau of the Census,
- the National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
- the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
- the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and
- Departmental Management.
The bill provides appropriations to DOJ for
- Justice Operations, Management, and Accountability;
- the Executive Office for Immigration Review;
- the Office of Inspector General;
- the U.S. Parole Commission;
- Legal Activities;
- the U.S. Marshals Service;
- the National Security Division;
- Interagency Law Enforcement;
- the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
- the Drug Enforcement Administration;
- the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and
- the Federal Prison System.
The bill also provides appropriations to DOJ for state and local law enforcement activities, including
- the Office on Violence Against Women,
- the Office of Justice Programs, and
- Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
The bill provides appropriations for science agencies, including
- the Office of Science and Technology Policy,
- the National Space Council,
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and
- the National Science Foundation.
The bill provides appropriations to related agencies, including
- the Commission on Civil Rights,
- the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
- the U.S. International Trade Commission,
- the Legal Services Corporation,
- the Marine Mammal Commission,
- the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and
- the State Justice Institute.
The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.
Legislative subjects
Accounting and auditing; Administrative remedies; Advanced technology and technological innovations; Alaska; Alternative and renewable resources; Appropriations; Arms control and nonproliferation; Asia; Assault and harassment offenses; Building construction; Buy American requirements; California; Canada; Caribbean area; Census and government statistics; Child safety and welfare; China; Commission on Civil Rights; Community life and organization; Competition and antitrust; Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits; Computer security and identity theft; Computers and information technology; Congressional oversight; Congressional-executive branch relations; Correctional facilities and imprisonment; Crime prevention; Crimes against children; Crimes against women; Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation; Criminal justice information and records; Cuba; Customs enforcement; Department of Commerce; Department of Justice; Detention of persons; Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad; Disability assistance; Disaster relief and insurance; District of Columbia; Domestic violence and child abuse; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Drug trafficking and controlled substances; Drug, alcohol, tobacco use; Economic development; Economics and Public Finance; Employee hiring; Employment and training programs; Endangered and threatened species; Environmental assessment, monitoring, research; Environmental regulatory procedures; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Europe; Evidence and witnesses; Executive agency funding and structure; Family services; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Federal Prison Industries, Inc.; Federal district courts; Firearms and explosives; Fishes; Fraud offenses and financial crimes; Free trade and trade barriers; Genetics; Government buildings, facilities, and property; Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management; Government information and archives; Government lending and loan guarantees; Government studies and investigations; Government trust funds; Health care coverage and access; Higher education; Housing and community development funding; Human trafficking; Idaho; Immigration status and procedures; Immunology and vaccination; Indian lands and resources rights; Indian social and development programs; Industrial policy and productivity; Intellectual property; Intergovernmental relations; Iran; Jurisdiction and venue; Juvenile crime and gang violence; Kentucky; Law enforcement administration and funding; Law enforcement officers; Lawyers and legal services; Legal Services Corporation; Legal fees and court costs; Licensing and registrations; Mammals; Marine Mammal Commission; Marine and coastal resources, fisheries; Mental health; Middle East; Minority and disadvantaged businesses; Missing persons; Motor vehicles; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Science Foundation; Nevada; North America; North Korea; Office of Science and Technology Policy; Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; Oregon; Organized crime; Prescription drugs; Public contracts and procurement; Religion; Research administration and funding; Research and development; Russia; Science and engineering education; Sex offenses; Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination; Smuggling and trafficking; Space flight and exploration; Spacecraft and satellites; State and local government operations; Student aid and college costs; Supply chain; Telecommunication rates and fees; Trade agreements and negotiations; Trade restrictions; Transportation costs; U.S. International Trade Commission; U.S. and foreign investments; User charges and fees; Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation; Washington State
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-272