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

Bill Number: S. 2354
Origin Chamber: Senate
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Economics and Public Finance
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-07-17: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 122.
Last Updated: 2026-04-10T17:09:54Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation, S. 2354 (119th Congress, 1st Session), is an appropriations bill titled the "Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026." Its primary purpose is to provide funding for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, science-related agencies (including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF)), and related entities for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. It allocates sums from the Treasury for operations, programs, research, enforcement, and other purposes, while imposing restrictions, transfer authorities, and reporting requirements to ensure accountability and alignment with congressional priorities.

Key Provisions

The bill is structured into five titles, with detailed appropriations and conditions:

Title I: Department of Commerce
Allocates approximately $13.5 billion across bureaus, including:
International Trade Administration: $605 million for trade promotion, export activities, and China-related enforcement.
Bureau of Industry and Security: $211 million for export controls and national security.
Economic Development Administration: $360 million for assistance programs and $66 million for administration.
Bureau of the Census: $328.5 million for surveys and $1.19 billion for periodic censuses.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): $4.48 billion for operations/research and $1.61 billion for procurement/construction, plus $65 million for Pacific salmon recovery.
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): $4.996 billion, largely offset by fees.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): $1.01 billion for research, $212 million for industrial technology, and $386 million for facilities construction.
Departmental Management: $94.5 million for salaries and $48 million for the Office of Inspector General.
General provisions allow limited fund transfers (up to 3% between accounts), advanced payments, and collaborations with other entities, while prohibiting certain uses (e.g., for child pornography deterrence restrictions).

Title II: Department of Justice
Allocates roughly $38.5 billion, including:
General operations: $142 million for management and $50 million for information sharing technology.
Executive Office for Immigration Review: $804 million for immigration activities.
Legal Activities: $1.03 billion for general legal work, $245 million for antitrust, $2.61 billion for U.S. Attorneys, and $320 million for witness fees/expenses.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): $10.64 billion for salaries and $15 million for construction.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): $2.57 billion for operations.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): $1.63 billion for enforcement.
Federal Prison System: $8.39 billion for operations and $180 million for buildings/facilities.
State and Local Law Enforcement: $720 million for violence against women programs; $1.88 billion for justice assistance (e.g., Byrne grants, DNA programs, reentry initiatives); $380 million for juvenile justice; and $500 million for community policing.
Other: $537 million for organized crime task forces and $139 million for the Office of Inspector General.
Emphasizes programs like the First Step Act (prison reform), opioid reduction, and victim services, with transfers from the Crime Victims Fund.

Title III: Science
Office of Science and Technology Policy: $8 million.
National Space Council: $2 million.
NASA: $25.85 billion total, including $7.3 billion for science, $950 million for aeronautics, $975 million for space technology (with $110 million for nuclear propulsion), $7.78 billion for exploration, $4.31 billion for space operations, $148 million for STEM engagement, $3.11 billion for safety/mission services, $276 million for construction, and $48 million for the Office of Inspector General.
NSF: $9.0 billion total, including $7.18 billion for research, $350 million for major equipment/facilities, $1 billion for STEM education, $444 million for agency operations, and $24 million for the Office of Inspector General.
Allows up to 6% transfers between NASA accounts and 3% for NSF, with spending plans required.

Title IV: Related Agencies
Commission on Civil Rights: $14.4 million (including $2 million for the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys).
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): $455 million for enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.
International Trade Commission: $122 million.
Legal Services Corporation: $566 million for legal aid to low-income individuals.
Marine Mammal Commission: $4.5 million.
Office of the United States Trade Representative: $65 million plus $15 million from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund.
State Justice Institute: $7.6 million for state court improvements.

Title V: General Provisions
Includes restrictions (e.g., no funds for abortions except in specific cases, no promotion of tobacco exports, blocks on certain China collaborations for NASA/NSF).
Authorizes limited transfers (up to 3-6% between accounts) and requires notifications for reprogrammings exceeding thresholds (e.g., $500,000 or 5%).
Mandates quarterly reports on balances, audits by Inspectors General, and supply chain risk reviews for IT systems.
Rescinds $305 million in unobligated balances from prior years (e.g., from economic development and justice programs).
Allocates CHIPS Act funds for semiconductors ($ unspecified in bill but directed via report tables).
Prohibits funds for Guantanamo detainee transfers, arms trade treaty implementation without Senate ratification, and certain firearm export/import denials.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amends Legal Services Corporation governance to require only 33% (instead of 60%) of board members to be attorneys from the state of service.
Updates life cycle cost estimates for NOAA satellite programs (e.g., Joint Polar Satellite System at $11.32 billion).
Modifies CHIPS Act allocations for FY 2026, requiring specific distributions for semiconductor research and workforce programs, with reallocation authority subject to congressional notification.
Introduces new reporting on Jeffrey Epstein case records and investigations (Sec. 224).
Expands matching requirements for Pacific salmon recovery grants (33% non-federal match) and waives certain cost-sharing for coastal zone management.
Rescinds prior-year unobligated funds, potentially reducing available carryover for economic development and justice programs.
Prohibits use of funds for live tissue training unless medically necessary (Sec. 219) and requires certifications for tax compliance in contracts over $5 million (Sec. 520).

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Provides stable or increased funding for core operations (e.g., FBI, NOAA, NASA), enabling continued research, enforcement, and infrastructure projects, but imposes reprogramming limits and rescissions that could constrain flexibility. CHIPS allocations bolster semiconductor and tech innovation at NIST and NSF.
Citizens: Enhances access to legal aid ($566 million), victim services (e.g., $720 million for violence against women), economic development grants, and STEM education, potentially improving community safety, economic opportunities, and disaster response via NOAA. Restrictions on abortion funding and pornography blocking on networks may affect federal employee benefits and IT policies.
International Relations: Strengthens trade enforcement ($605 million for ITA, $15 million for trade trust fund) and export controls ($211 million for BIS), impacting U.S. competitiveness with China. NOAA's salmon recovery aids Tribal and state fisheries, while prohibitions on China collaborations for NASA/NSF could limit joint space/science initiatives.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Agencies and Bureaus: Commerce (e.g., NOAA, USPTO, NIST), Justice (e.g., FBI, DEA, prisons), NASA, NSF, and related entities like EEOC and Legal Services Corporation, which receive direct funding for operations and programs.
State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Benefit from grants for law enforcement ($1.88 billion Byrne JAG), violence prevention ($720 million), juvenile justice ($380 million), economic development ($360 million), and salmon recovery ($65 million), supporting policing, courts, and environmental efforts.
Businesses and Innovators: U.S. firms gain from trade promotion, patent fees (self-funded USPTO), manufacturing extension ($175 million), and CHIPS-funded semiconductor R&D; exporters face enhanced China enforcement.
Citizens and Vulnerable Groups: Low-income individuals (legal aid), victims of crime/domestic violence, immigrants (immigration review), prisoners (First Step Act programs), and STEM students/educators; minorities and women via EEOC and civil rights commissions.
Researchers and Academia: NSF ($9 billion) and NASA ($25.85 billion) fund science, exploration, and education, impacting universities and minority-serving institutions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Reinforces Inspector General oversight with mandatory audits and public reporting (Sec. 513), ensuring transparency in grants/contracts. Prohibits funds for certain activities (e.g., Guantanamo transfers, Sec. 538; arms trade treaty without ratification, Sec. 537), potentially limiting executive discretion. Requires supply chain risk assessments for IT acquisitions (Sec. 514) to address cyber threats, aligning with national security laws.
Constitutional: Upholds First Amendment by allowing grant recipients to deter unlawful online activities (Sec. 106) and protects religious freedoms (Sec. 511, 221). Rescissions and reprogramming rules (Sec. 505) affirm congressional control over spending under the Appropriations Clause.
Political: Emphasizes priorities like opioid/stimulant reduction ($418 million), prison reform (First Step Act), and anti-trafficking efforts, reflecting bipartisan concerns. Restrictions on China engagements (Sec. 526) and Epstein reporting (Sec. 224) signal geopolitical and accountability focuses. CHIPS allocations advance domestic manufacturing goals, but require congressional notifications, balancing executive implementation with oversight. The bill's neutrality on controversial issues (e.g., marijuana enforcement waivers, Sec. 531) avoids federal-state conflicts.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]

Recent Actions

2025-07-17: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 122.
2025-07-17: Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Moran. With written report No. 119-44.
2025-07-17: Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Moran. With written report No. 119-44.
2025-07-17: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 — issued 2025-07-17 — PDF (144 pages)