I don’t know when this FY 2026 EPA Budget in Brief was published — presumably right after the Technical Summary was released last Friday? Over the weekend? In any case, despite pretty much continuous searching, I just found it this morning. On page 48, the Brief clarifies something I thought might be the case (but erroneously discounted) in a prior post, specifically in Note 1.

It looks like the Trump Admin does not intend to shut down the WIFIA program, or is not giving an indication to that effect, anyway. Apparently, it was judged that the program could continue loan origination in FY 2026 with ‘substantial’ leftover funding. The rest of the descriptive language is not negative and would seem to acknowledge some success (‘large loan pipeline’), so it seems the cut is simply a way to shave $65m off this year’s budget.

Okay — that’s much better. However, there’s a bit of cautionary signal here — the federal budget is being examined critically, down to the smallest details. For FY 2026 budget, WIFIA’s leftover funding meant that the current goal (savings) could be achieved, apparently without much further thought, and the couch change could be thrown in the pot. But once the microscope is brought to bear, its use might become more standard — and harder questions asked. Like in FY 2027 or FY 2028, when the leftovers are gone and the federal budget is still in parlous shape? It might be better to see this, not as an affirmation of the role or necessity of federal infrastructure finance, but as a stay of execution during which a strong defense can be made — for the next time.