Republican Energy and Water Development Funding Bill Increases Costs, Weakens National Security

May 14, 2026 Press Release Despite Heightened Risks, Bill Makes Americans More Vulnerable to Nuclear Threats Washington, DC — House Appropriations Committee Republicans today released the draft fiscal year 2027 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The bill energy raises costs for American households, weakens our national security, and abandons communities cleaning up radioactive waste. For 2027, the Energy and Water bill provides $62.2 Billion in discretionary funding. Within that amount, the bill provides $27.2 Billion for nondefense programs, a cut of over $1.8 Billion, or 6 percent, below the fiscal year 2026 enacted level, and $35 Billion for defense programs, an increase of $774 Million, or 2 percent, above the fiscal year 2026 enacted level. The legislation: Increases energy costs, jeopardizes energy independence, and hurts United States’ competitiveness by slashing the Department of Energy’s Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation programs (formerly called Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) by 40 percent, revoking $2.8 Billion from the Department of Energy’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources, and cutting the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy by $50 Million. Weakens national security and leaves Americans more vulnerable to nuclear threats by cutting the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account by 12 percent. Abandons commitments to communities to clean up radioactive waste by eliminating funding for the Corps of Engineers’ Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program and cutting the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management by 10 percent. “The answer to rising costs is not less energy innovation — it is more. Fair pricing and energy independence in perpetuity requires diversifying our energy portfolio. No single fuel source, no single conflict, and no single cartel can hold the American economy hostage,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies. “Sadly, this Republican Energy and Water bill does not meet that imperative. This bill fails to address the energy cost crisis. Higher energy bills lie ahead for families and businesses. China is investing record levels in energy, but this bill retreats from US global leadership in building a more diversified clean energy economy for the future. We must work together on bipartisan legislation that can pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the President, otherwise I find it hard to support this legislation which does not meet the needs for the new age frontiers of energy and water.” “Americans are struggling to pay their bills. Middle class, working class, and vulnerable families are asking for lower prices on everyday goods like gas and groceries. Instead of addressing this cost-of-living crisis, House Republicans introduced an Energy and Water funding bill that would make it worse,” said Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). “Their proposal slashes investments in programs that lower energy costs for families and businesses and eliminates resources that provide affordable energy to households across the country. While President Trump continues to pursue a deadly, unpopular war with Iran and inflame tensions with our adversaries, House Republicans’ bill would leave our country more vulnerable to nuclear threats and yield American leadership of the world’s energy future to China. This bill is an attack on the country’s energy future. Democrats want to lower costs and ensure America leads the global transition to a clean energy economy. Republicans want to pass a funding bill that raises costs and makes us less safe.” A summary of House Republicans’ 2027 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies funding bill is here . A fact sheet is here . The text of the bill is here . The subcommittee markup will be webcast live on the House Committee on Appropriations website . # # # Issues : Trade Jobs and the Economy Energy