WRDA 2026 (H.R. 9497)

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This pages provides a high-level overview of this bill. For full list of provisions, line-item appropriations, and specific funding allocations, please view our detailed breakdown.

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Summary

Approves U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects to improve rivers, harbors, and water resources and updates policies for managing the nation's waterways.

What problem does this solve?

The nation's water infrastructure, like levees and harbors, needs constant upkeep and new projects to manage floods, support shipping, and protect the environment. This bill gives the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the authority to study, plan, and build these necessary water projects across the country.

What does this bill do?

New program offices

Establishes four new offices within the Army Corps of Engineers to manage inland navigation, water supply and drought, community outreach, and alternative project delivery methods.

Contaminated sediment liability

Shields the Army from legal liability for pollution released when cleaning up contaminated sediment, as long as the work follows a plan approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Levee Owners Board

Creates a new board of levee owners to give advice to the government on how to keep the nation's levee systems safe and reliable.

Faster permitting

Directs the Army Corps of Engineers to create "categorical permissions" to speed up the approval process for common, low-impact activities near federal water projects.

Electronic permit and review tracking

Upgrades the online system for permits to also allow the public and local partners to track the status of federal environmental reviews for projects.

Accelerated feasibility studies

Changes the rules for how the Army Corps of Engineers studies new projects, aiming to make the process faster and more focused on the goals of local communities.

New and expanded local project programs

Creates new programs to help communities improve flood protection and prepare for droughts. It also increases funding limits for several existing small project programs.

Missouri River water diversion

Forbids taking water from the Missouri River for use outside of the states in the river's basin unless every governor from those states agrees.

Valuing nature-based solutions

Creates a pilot program for up to 10 projects where the environmental benefits of using natural solutions, like restoring wetlands, are valued at least as much as their cost.

Authorizes new projects

Gives official approval for the Army Corps of Engineers to begin specific new projects for navigation, flood control, and ecosystem restoration in various states.

Who does this affect?

Communities near rivers and coastlines
Shipping and trade industries
State and local governments

What is the real world impact?

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Keeps water infrastructure projects moving

Provides regular, needed authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study and build projects that protect communities from floods, keep rivers and harbors open for boats, and restore ecosystems.

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Streamlines project planning and approval

Creates new offices and policies to speed up how projects are planned and approved. This helps get work done faster and makes it easier for local communities to partner with the government.

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Bundles many local projects into one bill

Combines hundreds of local projects from across the country into a single large bill. This practice makes it hard to vote against a single project without rejecting all of them.

When does this start?

This bill sets multiple deadlines for new rules, reports, and programs to be started, mostly within 90 to 180 days after it becomes law.

Corps of Engineers district realignment

The Secretary must realign specified districts of the Corps of Engineers within 90 days of the bill becoming law.

New policy and guidance

The Secretary must issue or update all necessary policies and guidance to implement the act within 120 days.

Establishment of new program offices

The Secretary must establish four new program offices for navigation, water supply, community outreach, and alternative project delivery within 180 days.

Rulemaking for levee safety

The Secretary must begin the process of creating a new rule for how levee safety is assessed within 180 days.

Rulemaking for faster permitting

The Secretary must publish a proposed rule to establish 'categorical permissions' for common projects within 180 days.

Comptroller General review

The Comptroller General must complete a review of multiyear contracting benefits within one year.

Electronic system implementation

The Secretary must implement an updated electronic system for tracking permits and environmental reviews within one year.

Water Resources Development Act of 2026