President Proposes Increased Funding for Public Transit, Passenger Rail in Budget Request

President Trump released his FY26 Budget request May 30. He requests $21.2 billion for public transit and $16.5 billion for passenger rail in FY26, when combined with the advance appropriations included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

View APTA’s statement on the President’s budget request for public transit, passenger rail.

View USDOT’s Budget Highlights.

Public Transit
President Trump requests $21.2 billion for public transit in FY26, a $310 million (1.5 percent) increase from the FY25 enacted level. The request is $1.0 billion (-4.7 percent) less than the FY26 IIJA authorized levels.

The Budget request provides $3.8 billion for Capital Investment Grants (CIG) in FY26. The Budget includes more flexibility for using CIG funds by eliminating the specific IIJA allocations for New Start, Core Capacity, Small Starts, and Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program projects in FY26.

In addition to funding projects with existing Full Funding Grant Agreements, the Budget proposes funding for 15 CIG projects in 11 States. View FTA’s CIG Annual Report on Funding Recommendations. Currently, communities are requesting more than $35.5 billion of CIG funds in FY26 and subsequent years to fund construction of 56 projects in 25 States. View APTA’s CIG Project Pipeline Dashboard.

Section 163 of the President’s Budget blocks the Rostenkowski Test, preventing a possible across-the-board cut of FY26 transit formula funds to each public transit agency.

View APTA’s Public Transit Funding Table.

View FTA’s FY26 Budget Estimates Congressional Justification.

Passenger and Freight Rail
President Trump requests $16.5 billion for passenger and freight rail in FY26, a $316 million (2.0 percent) increase from the FY25 enacted level. The request is $4.5 billion (-21.6 percent) less than the FY26 IIJA authorized levels.

When combined with the IIJA’s advance appropriations, the President requests $6.8 billion for Amtrak, including $4.8 billion for National Network grants and $2.1 billion for Northeast Corridor grants. In addition, the Budget provides $7.2 billion for Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grants, $1.5 billion for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grants, and $600 million for Railroad Crossing Elimination grants.

The President’s Budget proposes new policy provisions for CRISI and the Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program. For CRISI grants, the Budget proposes to allow any State, county, municipal, local, and regional law enforcement agency to be an eligible recipient for trespassing prevention projects. The Budget proposes waiving the maximum federal share for such projects.

In addition, the President’s Budget proposes to eliminate the preference for projects that maximize benefits (pursuant to a cost-benefit analysis) for certain CRISI-eligible projects including: regional rail and corridor service development plans; safety program or institute designed to improve rail safety; research for rail-related capital, operations, or safety improvements; workforce development and training activities; and research, development, and testing to advance and facilitate innovative rail projects.

For the Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program, the President’s Budget proposes to make nonprofit organizations eligible to receive grants.

View APTA’s Passenger Rail Funding Table.

View FRA’s FY26 Budget Estimates Congressional Justification.

USDOT Programs
The President’s Budget requests $2.5 billion for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Mega competitive grant programs. The Budget proposes $9 million for the Interagency Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center to streamline the permitting review processes.

Section 417 of the President’s Budget prohibits funding from being used to enforce a mask mandate in response to COVID-19.

View the DOT Office of the Secretary FY26 Budget Estimates Congressional Justification.

View the President’s FY26 Budget Appendix.

Transit Security Grant Program
The President’s Budget proposes $50 million for FEMA’s Transportation Security Grant Program in FY26, a $44.5 million (-47 percent) decrease from the FY25 enacted level.

View the Federal Emergency Management Budget Estimates Congressional Justification.

APTA’s Industry Footprint shows every public transit system, supplier, and manufacturer by congressional district and state. APTA members should use this resource during congressional meetings to show their Members of Congress the importance of the public transportation industry to their regional economy.