Key Takeaways
- •Adam Telle (Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works) announced the "Building Infrastructure Not Paperwork" initiative to streamline project delivery and reduce bureaucratic delays for water infrastructure.
- •William H. Graham Jr. (Chief of Engineers, USACE) testified that the Corps is shifting toward requiring 35% design maturity before seeking congressional authorization to prevent massive cost overruns.
- •Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Sen. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA) challenged Telle on the administration's pause of $11 billion in funding for projects located primarily in Democratic-led states.
- •Republicans prioritized flood control over environmental regulations like the Endangered Species Act, while Democrats criticized the Corps for favoring inland projects over coastal storm risk management.
- •This testimony informs the drafting of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, as members seek to resolve "902 limit" cost-overrun issues and stalled project funding.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing on February 25, 2026, to examine the development of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. The hearing served as a critical oversight mechanism for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and a platform for the administration to debut its "Building Infrastructure Not Paperwork" initiative. Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led the session, which focused on the biennial cadence of WRDA legislation, the implementation status of the 2024 Act, and the administration’s efforts to streamline project delivery.
Key Testimony
Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Lieutenant General William H. Graham Jr., Chief of Engineers for the USACE, provided the primary testimony. Secretary Telle emphasized a fundamental overhaul of financial and operational practices to reduce waste and inefficiency. He reported that of the 552 provisions in the last three WRDAs, only 21 required lengthy implementation guidance, with most already in effect. However, he acknowledged that 86 reporting requirements remain under administrative review. General Graham highlighted the Corps' improved on-schedule rate of 86.2% and advocated for a new requirement that projects reach 35% design maturity before seeking congressional authorization to prevent the "spiral of doom" caused by cost overruns and Section 902 limit breaches.
Overview
A significant portion of the hearing was dominated by partisan friction regarding a reported pause in funding for projects in "blue states." Ranking Member Whitehouse and Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) criticized the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for allegedly withholding $11 billion in funding from states with Democratic leadership. Senator Padilla noted that $126 million was stripped from Sacramento flood risk projects, while Senator Schiff questioned if the cancellation of California flood control projects was politically motivated. Secretary Telle and General Graham maintained that the Corps is nonpartisan, explaining that pauses were often due to "excess carryover" of funds or the need for project reassessments.
Policy Proposals
Specific regional projects received intense scrutiny. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) pressed for a long-term solution to the recurring glacial outburst flooding in Juneau, expressing concern over reports that the Corps had rescinded its preference for a "Lake Tap" solution. Secretary Telle committed to a "short, medium, and long-term" strategy for Juneau. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) raised concerns about the Rio de Flag and Winslow Levee projects hitting Section 902 cost limits, which halt construction until reauthorization. General Graham admitted the Winslow project would likely miss the WRDA 2026 window due to immature initial engineering.
The "Building Infrastructure Not Paperwork" initiative was presented as a solution to these delays. The policy aims to empower district engineers to manage risk rather than avoid it, utilize new technology for faster Waters of the United States (WOTUS) jurisdictional determinations following the Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, and modernize dredging contracts. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) praised the effort to take subjectivity out of regulatory decisions through technology. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) highlighted the success of Section 214 funding agreements, which allow non-federal sponsors to fund Corps expedited reviews, and asked how these fit into the new initiative.
Environmental and safety trade-offs were also debated. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) challenged the Corps on its Missouri River Master Manual, arguing that the deprioritization of flood control in favor of Endangered Species Act compliance—specifically regarding the pallid sturgeon—has led to disastrous flooding for farmers. General Graham asserted that "life, health, and safety" remains the top priority, though he acknowledged the complexities of legal mandates.
Overview
The hearing also touched on the impact of infrastructure on the energy sector. Senator Boozman and Secretary Telle discussed a recent spillway failure at the Dardanelle Dam that nearly forced Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO) offline due to dropping water levels, using it as an example of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. Additionally, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) raised concerns about the backlog of capital reinvestment in Pacific Northwest fish hatcheries, which General Graham estimated at $160 million.
Key Testimony
As the committee moves toward drafting WRDA 2026, the primary next steps involve the Corps submitting outstanding reports and technical assistance requested by members. Secretary Telle pledged to clear the "information blockade" regarding project statuses and to provide the committee with a plan for the $15 billion in "stranded" supplemental funding that has remained unspent for years.
Transcript
...that will determine whether the United States of America remains the greatest nation in the history of the world. Finally, we are instilling a culture of discipline by fundamentally overhauling our financial and operational practices to attack waste and inefficiency. We are committed to executing our mission with a higher standard of integrity, ensuring every dollar is spent with purpose to achieve clear measurable results for the American people. President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and Secretary Driscoll want to deliver infrastructure now, and our partners in Congress are tired of decades-long delays and cost overruns. The time is right for this change, and we have a unique opportunity to transform the way the Corps of Engineers conducts its business to meet this moment in history. Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.
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