The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is an agency in the Department of Defense that develops water resources projects, among other civil and military missions. Congress often, but not always, considers on a biennial schedule omnibus legislation to authorize USACE water resources studies and projects and to refine congressional policy direction for the agency’s water resources activities. Congress commonly refers to such legislation as a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The primary purposes of USACE water resources studies and projects historically have been (1) improving navigation, (2) reducing inland and coastal flood risk, and (3) restoring aquatic ecosystems. USACE projects may additionally support water supply storage, recreation, and hydropower, among other benefits. USACE typically conducts project planning and manages construction, and for navigation and multipurpose projects, it may be responsible for operation and maintenance. Congress also has authorized USACE to assist nonfederal public entities with their environmental infrastructure (EI; e.g., design and construction assistance for public drinking water and wastewater infrastructure) in designated communities, counties, and states. The two chambers’ Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026) are H.R. 9497, reported in September 2026 by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House T&I) and S. 4949, reported in July 2026 by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (Senate EPW). In the 119th Congress, each of these committees held WRDA-related hearings and in early 2026 solicited Member input on priorities for WRDA 2026. H.R. 9497 has five titles. Four titles are focused on USACE. The fifth title relates to FEMA’s National Dam Safety Program, which is in the jurisdiction of both House T&I and Senate EPW. T&I has ordered reported the bill after a markup on July 14, 2026, when a manager’s amendment and other amendments were adopted. S. 4949 is divided into Division A principally focused on USACE’s water resources development authorities. This report discusses the USACE portions of these bills. This report does not attempt to synthesize the entirety of the two WRDA 2026 bills. WRDA bills have hundreds of provisions; many of which include direction on specific projects or for specific geographic areas. Instead, this report discusses selected provisions of a more general nature. Topics discussed are Authorizing Geographically Specific Studies, Projects; Expediting Studies, Environmental Reviews and Permits; categorical exclusion for environmental documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); Section 408 permission (permission for entity other than USACE to alter a USACE work); Expediting Construction; Design services; Contracting efficiency; real estate; Expanding nonfederal project delivery; Report on improving alternative delivery methods; Communicating and Implementing WRDAs; Congressional communication; Capability estimates; Dredge material management ; inland waterways; Levee Owners; Levee certification; Nonstructural; Voluntary property acquisition; eminent domain; Pilot program for incorporating wind design loads into USACE structural elevations; supporting Water Supply and Drought Resiliency; Report on new commercial and industrial users on USACE projects; Program for small drought resiliency projects; Directing Agency Operations; Workforce; Office realignment; district realignment; resumption of work; Russ Vought; Russell Vought; building infrastructure not paperwork initiative; BINP; Adam Telle; Everglades; CEPP, central everglades planning project; ASACW; Section 408 permission.
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