NWC NEWS ALERT (FEB. 23, 2026)
WRDA 2026 Hearings Set the Stage for Administration 30-point Reform Agenda This Week
Congress will hold two major hearings this week examining the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers priorities, with The Honorable Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army, and Lieutenant General William H. Graham Jr., Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, testifying before both committees.
On Tuesday, February 24 at 10:00 AM ET, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s (T&I) Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment will hold a hearing titled, “Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act of 2026 – Administration Priorities.” The Subcommittee is expected to review WRDA 2026 and examine the Administration’s priorities for Civil Works projects. The hearing can be viewed live here.
On Wednesday, February 25 at 10:00 AM ET, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Hearing to Examine the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Projects, Programs, and Priorities.” The session will explore ongoing Corps projects, programs, and priorities in the context of WRDA 2026. The hearing can be viewed live here.
As part of this broader WRDA discussion, Assistant Secretary Telle is expected to outline a 27-point reform framework focused on resetting agency culture and strengthening project delivery across the Civil Works program. The reported five lines of effort include restoring national infrastructure delivery capacity, leveraging technology and permitting reforms to accelerate decisions, aligning headquarters and districts with the President’s Budget, increasing transparency around district-level project funding structures, and prioritizing core Corps missions while augmenting construction delivery through contractors and non-federal partners. Additional details are anticipated to be released in the coming days. NWC will monitor developments and provide updates as more details become available.
