Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill sets the federal funding levels for a wide range of government departments and agencies for the 2026 fiscal year. It covers the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, NASA, the National Science Foundation, and several other science and law enforcement-related federal agencies. Essentially, it decides how much money each of these organizations will receive to carry out their work over the course of the year.

The funding decisions in this bill affect a broad cross-section of American life. The Department of Justice funding covers federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and federal prisons, as well as grants to state and local police departments. The Department of Commerce funding supports agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which provides weather forecasting and monitors environmental conditions, and the Census Bureau, which collects data used to distribute federal resources and draw congressional districts. NASA and the National Science Foundation funding affects scientific research, space exploration, and grants to universities and researchers across the country.

This bill was developed by the Senate Appropriations Committee and sponsored by Senator Moran before being placed on the Senate calendar for further consideration. It still needs to pass both the full Senate and the House of Representatives, and be signed by the President, before it becomes law. Until a final appropriations bill is enacted, the government relies on temporary funding measures to keep these agencies operating.