The White House proposed $163 billion in non-defense spending cuts in its 2026 discretionary budget request released May 2. While Congress must still finalize the federal budget, the proposal provides a look into Trump administration priorities that would include both increases and cuts for different programs funding construction projects.

The cuts would amount to a 22.6% decrease from the enacted 2025 budget. As proposed, the partial budget would formalize many cuts the president has moved to make via executive order, such as to environmental initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The proposal would cut billions of dollars in funding from environmentally focused programs. It would “cancel” $15.2 billion from various U.S. Dept. of Energy programs such as those funding renewable energy and carbon dioxide removal from the air.

Also targeted for cuts is $609 million from Bureau of Reclamation programs that fund efforts such as habitat restoration, but not building or maintaining water infrastructure.

The budget would cut $389 million from the Energy Dept.’s Environmental Management program, which leads nuclear and hazardous waste cleanup activities at 14 sites and operates the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, a geologic disposal facility in New Mexico. White House officials wrote that the budget maintains 2025 funding levels for the Hanford Site cleanup in Washington state, but reduces funding for work at other sites. The cuts include $178 million that officials attributed to the transition of responsibilities from the Environmental Management program to the National Nuclear Security Administration.

The budget would also cut $254 million from the federal Superfund program, which officials wrote still has $1.6 billion available from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, criticized the cuts as “an unmitigated disaster for everyone except the looters and polluters” in a statement.

“By crippling the EPA, Trump would ensure that families nationwide are more dangerously exposed to unsafe drinking water, toxic waste and the skyrocketing costs of climate change,” Whitehouse said.

The proposal also cuts $325 million from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In budget documents, White House officials wrote that NIST “has long funded awards for the development of curricula that advance a radical climate agenda” and its Circular Economy Program “pushes environmental alarmism.”

Another $80 million would be cut from Dept. of the Interior renewable energy programs under the proposal.

Several U.S. Dept. of Transportation programs helping fund construction projects would see increases under the proposed budget. These include an additional $824 million for a Federal Aviation Administration program to upgrade U.S. National Airspace System facilities and replace radar equipment.

As part of the White House’s Make America Skilled Again initiative, officials have proposed handing states “more control and flexibility to coordinate with employers.” States receiving related grants would have to spend at least 10% of the award on apprenticeship programs, which the Trump administration has moved to boost.

“At this point in the process … the key value in a proposal like this is it reflects some of the policy priorities of the administration,” said Brian Turmail, vice president of public affairs and workforce at the Associated General Contractors of America, via email. “To that end, we were encouraged by the strong support for craft workforce development in the proposal.”

While consolidating several grants under the program, the White House proposes cutting $1.6 billion in funding. Trump officials criticized Biden administration priorities for workforce training spending, indicating grants would not be available for initiatives assisting immigrants or focusing on diversity and inclusion.

The budget also cuts another $1.6 billion from the Job Corps, which officials wrote in budget documents is a “failed experiment,” and $405 million from a program that helped train and subsidize employment for low-income seniors.

“President Trump’s first budget proposal reaffirms his unwavering commitment to putting American workers first, encouraging and empowering states to upskill their workers by expanding apprenticeship opportunities,” U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement.

Several other programs funding construction projects are targeted for funding cuts by the White House’s proposal. They include $3.3 billion from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program focused on various neighborhood-level projects. White House officials called the formula funding program “poorly targeted” and said projects that should be funded at the local level.

The budget would cut $1.1 billion from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. About half of the $2.8 billion appropriated to it in 2024 has not been obligated as of the first quarter of 2025, according to the White House.

Another $73 million would be cut from National Park Service construction. The White House aims to transfer some smaller and less-visited parks to state or tribal governments, and officials wrote that park projects should be managed locally.

Lawmakers will likely make some changes before finalizing their budget, although House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the White House proposal “a bold blueprint” and said House Republicans would work with the president “to implement a responsible budget.”

Democrats were critical of the proposal. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, said Trump officials “are attacking education, housing, cancer research and investments in the middle class to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”

$0 cuts from the bloated military budget. Some cuts I agree with but others are dumb. The one for water is ridiculous. Trump is still bootlicking the military and it’s clear as day in this budget proposal.