Democratic Lawmakers Say Funding Shifts for Stalled Water Projects Have Political Motives

A congressional evaluation of building tasks that may obtain continued funding below the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers’ fiscal 2025 work plan reveals that the Trump administration steered funds to tasks in Republican-leaning states and away from these in states thought-about extra “blue,”—akin to California, Hawaii and Washington state. 

Based on the workplace of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice-Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the company shifted $437 million in funding from states with principally Democratic administrations within the fiscal 2026 presidential price range request, whereas allocating $258 million to so-called “pink” states—representing a 64% to 33% cut up. This can be a break from the normal protocol, the place funding for flood safety infrastructure tasks throughout all states—no matter politics—are thought-about in federal spending payments which have handed with bipartisan assist, she stated at a Could 22 press briefing. 

Congressional appropriators usually work out annually in annual spending payments—via an extended and infrequently laborious course of—which tasks obtain funding. However the principally Republican-supported persevering with decision despatched to the White Home in March lowered funding for the Corps by $1.4 billion and gave extensive latitude to the president in making the cuts. 

A livid Murray informed reporters: “President Trump’s Military Corps building plan completely tramples the entire cautious, painstaking negotiations we did in Congress to achieve a bipartisan understanding about what tasks want funding, and replaces it along with his personal partisan imaginative and prescient.” She added: “By no means once more.” 

Tasks with funding reduce or zeroed-out embody a water storage and fish passage mission at Hanson Dam in King County, Wash., which had been set to obtain $500 million in fiscal 2025; and at the very least 4 main flood-risk discount efforts in California. These embody the $2.03-billion Decrease San Joaquin River Basin mission that goals to boost flood safety for Stockton by upgrading 23 miles of levees and establishing two closure buildings; and one set to strengthen 42 miles of levees across the Natomas Basin.

Work in Limbo 

In October 2024, the Corps Seattle District awarded a $657-million water storage and fish passage mission to a three way partnership of contractors Flatiron and Aecon. Based on a district spokesperson, the mission remains to be throughout the totally funded design section. “The award of the development possibility below that contract relies on receipt of further funds,” she stated. The Corps presently is reviewing the design, which is at 80% completion. 

On a Could 16 name with reporters, Heather Pennington, Tacoma Public Utilities water superintendent, stated that her company was in discussions with the Corps concerning the present contract. “I do know that there’s hope to proceed work within the close to time period, however what is not presently funded and now will not be funded is unclear. We’re very involved about what’s going to have the ability to be accomplished and what the pause and influence will probably be if we do not safe further funding.” 

Additionally on the decision was Thomas Keown, common supervisor of the Covington Water District, primarily based in Kent, Wash., who stated the choice to tug funding for the dam “is shaping up as a waste of a wonderfully good shovel-ready mission that’s more likely to be mothballed for who is aware of how lengthy.” 

On Could 21, Robyn Colosimo, appearing assistant secretary of the Military for Civil Works, denied that funding shifts had been politically motivated. Noting the numerous cuts within the persevering with decision for Corps tasks, prime officers throughout the administration “made onerous decisions and had the discretion to do this,” she stated at a listening to earlier than a Home appropriations subcommittee. 

“I do imagine these replicate the priorities of the administration,” she stated. “I imagine they needed to make tradeoffs that I used to be not aware of.”