Updated November 16, 2018
Army Corps of Engineers: FY2019 Appropriations
Congress generally funds the civil works activities of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in an annual
Energy and Water Development appropriations act. These
activities consist primarily of planning and constructing
water resource projects and maintaining federal
infrastructure operated by USACE (e.g., navigation
channels). For USACE civil works, President Trump
requested $4.8 billion for FY2019. Congress typically funds
USACE above the President’s request (see Figure 1). P.L.
115-244 (Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations
Act, 2019) provides $7.0 billion for USACE civil works.
This In Focus provides a primer on USACE appropriations
for FY2019 and selected topics related to congressional
deliberations. These topics include navigation funding,
flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration projects,
construction backlog and upcoming projects, and
alternative financing.
Figure 1. Annual USACE Funding, FY2005-FY2019
(nominal $ in billions)
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS).
FY2019 Request and FY2019 Funding
Unlike federal funding for highways and municipal water
infrastructure, federal funds provided to USACE are not
distributed by formula to states or through a competitive
grant program. Instead, the agency directly engages in
project planning and construction. It uses most of its
appropriations to work on specific studies and projects
authorized by Congress. Congress appropriates USACE
funding at the account level. The two largest accounts are
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and Construction (see
Figure 2), which received $3.74 billion and $2.18 billion,
respectively, for FY2019.
Since the 112
th
Congress, congressional funding for site-
specific projects (i.e., congressionally directed spending or
earmarks) has been subject to House and Senate earmark
moratoriums. Following adoption of the moratoriums,
Congress has provided additional funding for categories of
USACE work, in lieu of increasing funding for specific
projects. P.L. 115-244 provides $2.21 billion more than the
President’s request. H.Rept. 115-929 (the conference report
accompanying P.L. 115-244) identifies $1.95 billion of the
increase as additional funding for 25 categories of USACE
activities. H.Rept. 115-929 requires the Administration to
publish an FY2019 work plan identifying the specific
activities it has selected to receive additional funding.
USACE is anticipated to publish the FY2019 work plan by
the end of 2018.
Figure 2. USACE Account Funding, FY2012-FY2019
(nominal $ in billions)
Source: CRS.
Notes: ASA = Assistant Secretary of the Army. Regulatory = Permit
program for nonfederal activities affecting regulated waters and
wetlands. FUSRAP = Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action
Program. Amounts do not include supplemental appropriations.
According to the Administration’s FY2019 budget
documents, the request prioritized maintaining performance
of existing infrastructure. The request would have initiated
no new studies or construction projects (referred to as new
starts). It sought to limit funding to ongoing navigation and
flood risk reduction construction projects with benefit-cost
ratios (BCRs) greater than 2.5 to 1 (i.e., project benefits are
at least two and a half times project costs) or projects that
address safety concerns. However, enacted appropriations
for FY2019 require USACE to start five new construction
projects and six new studies. Many congressionally
authorized USACE projects do not have BCRs that meet
the 2.5 BCR threshold. In the course of identifying
activities to receive the additional funding provided by
Congress, H.Rept. 115-929 directs the Administration to
follow the congressional guidance provided therein and not
disqualify projects based on Administration budget metrics.
For more background on USACE appropriations, see CRS
Report R45326, Army Corps of Engineers Annual and
Supplemental Appropriations: Issues for Congress, by
Nicole T. Carter.
