Sponsor
John Neely Kennedy
Senator · R-LA
Official title: A bill making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 1, 2025 by John Neely Kennedy · Last progress December 1, 2025
Senator · R-LA
The bill significantly increases Congressional oversight and transparency of federal spending and strengthens controls on large and high‑risk projects, but it does so by imposing strict reprogramming limits, reporting burdens, and procedural constraints that reduce agency flexibility and can slow research, local projects, and emergency responses.
Taxpayers, Congress, and recipients (federal agencies, states, localities, universities) gain much clearer oversight and reporting: multiple agencies must provide baseline, monthly, quarterly, or semiannual reports and advance notices so Congress can track appropriations, reprogrammings, unobligated balances, and award activity.
Taxpayers and local/state governments are less likely to see programs expanded or restarted without Congressional approval: the bill restricts reprogramming, prohibits repurposing to create/eliminate programs, and bars use of funds contrary to explicit appropriations.
State and local governments and utilities get limited, targeted emergency reprogramming authority in specified urgent situations: Corps and NRC authorities permit immediate reprogramming when there is an urgent risk to health, environment, welfare, or national security.
State and local governments, utilities, federal agencies, and communities lose significant budget flexibility: strict numeric caps, prohibitions on repurposing, and transfer limits across multiple agencies will make it harder to shift funds quickly to emergent local needs, cost overruns, or changing priorities.
Federal agencies and funded entities face substantial new administrative burden and compliance costs: monthly/quarterly/semiannual reporting, advance-notice windows, and mandated procedures will divert staff time and resources from program work.
Scientists, universities, national labs, and small award recipients may see delays and uncertainty: DOE advance-notice, 30-business-day review requirements, 120-day termination protections, and limits on multiyear awards can slow new solicitations, project starts, and grant reallocation.
Based on analysis of 10 sections of legislative text.
Imposes strict limits, numeric caps, notice, and reporting requirements on agency reprogrammings, transfers, new program starts, and large awards for funds available in FY2026.
Limits how agencies may move or reprogram funds within appropriations provided by the Act, and sets notice, reporting, and dollar thresholds for transfers and new program starts across multiple agencies (Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and others). It requires baseline and periodic reports to the Appropriations Committees, establishes numeric ceilings for allowable reprogramming, and restricts starting or expanding programs without advance congressional notification. The law applies to funds available in FY2026 from this Act and prior appropriations still available, imposes specific caps and notification windows for specified accounts, and includes general restrictions on use of funds, transfers, and certain types of computer networks. It also sets conditions on agency reorganizations and high-value awards or solicitations at DOE and special reporting rules for NRC and Reclamation.