Corps FY26 Work Plan allocates $42M for Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway projects

Work crews remove one of two canal gates for refurbishment at South Mills Lock in North Carolina, Jan. 7, 2020. (U.S. Army photo/Vince Little)

The Trump Administration on April 7 released the fiscal year 2026 work plan for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, outlining final funding allocations for projects across the country. The Work Plan can be viewed here.

Funding for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway totaled $42.4 million, matching the amount approved by Congress in the Energy and Water appropriations bill and exceeding the president’s initial budget request of $38.2 million.

At the state level, Virginia projects, including the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal and the Dismal Swamp Canal, received funding in line with both the president’s request and congressional appropriations. North Carolina saw an increase from $12.5 million in the president’s budget to $16.7 million in the final allocation. South Carolina, Georgia and Florida funding levels remained consistent with both the president’s request and congressional appropriations.

Funding for the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway increased to $2.1 million in the final work plan, up from $1.7 million in both the president’s request and congressional appropriations.

Officials noted that while the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway did not receive additional funding beyond congressional appropriations, the program benefited from a $4.2 million community project funding allocation above the president’s budget. Overall, projects in every state received funding, totaling more than $42 million.

Separately, the administration released its fiscal year 2027 budget request on April 3, proposing $4.9 billion for the Corps, a decrease of $1.9 billion from fiscal year 2026 levels, or about 23 percent.

For the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the proposal includes about $29 million in total funding. Virginia projects would receive $1.2 million, including funding for the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal and the Dismal Swamp Canal. North Carolina is proposed to receive $7.8 million, South Carolina $8.6 million, Georgia $5.5 million and Florida $5.9 million. The New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway would receive $334,000 under the proposal.

While the proposed funding levels are lower than recent allocations, funding is included for projects in each state.

The next step in the process is for Congress to develop funding levels for the fiscal year 2027 Energy and Water appropriations bill. Advocacy efforts are expected to focus on securing additional funding through earmarks and future work plan allocations.