A dozen members of the California Congressional Delegation, led by its chair, Rep. Zoe Lofgren of the 18th Congressional District, sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee calling for the committee to reject the Trump Administration’s drastic cuts to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
The president’s budget request for fiscal year 2026 included only $1.56 billion for USACE construction—53% below the fiscal year 2024 enacted funding level—and excluded vital flood prevention projects in California.
“This funding request is seriously insufficient to meet the flood risk management, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and other needs of communities across the country,” the letter stated.
Specifically excluded from the budget request were four California projects which have previously received strong, unambiguous congressional support: the American River Common Features, Natomas Basin; the Pajaro River at Watsonville; the San Joaquin River Basin project; and the West Sacramento project. The FY25 President’s Budget and both the House and Senate draft FY2025 appropriations bills all included a total of $126.4 million in construction funding for four projects before the Trump Administration prevented them from receiving any FY2025 funding.
“Each of these projects has already received substantial federal funding to date. Leaving the projects half-finished would not be an efficient use of federal or non-federal resources. … These projects are vital to the safety and prosperity of our constituents,” delegation members said.
“Californians are all too familiar with the devastating consequences of poor flood risk management. In California’s 18th District, the community of Pajaro has suffered significant damage and loss of life due to flooding for decades,” Lofgren said. “The Pajaro River Project is vital for the area’s safety and livelihood, and I will continue to fight to ensure it receives funding until its completion.”
Rep. Jimmy Panetta further added, “The administration’s decision to omit the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project from the Army Corps’ work plan not only ignores the bipartisan support behind this project, but also puts lives, homes, and livelihoods in the Pajaro Valley at continued risk.
“That’s why our delegation is urging congressional appropriators to reject these devastating cuts and fund the critical, shovel-ready flood protection projects that have already been vetted, authorized, and previously funded. As we’ve done before, we will keep fighting to protect the people and produce of the Pajaro Valley and ensure the federal government lives up to its commitment to our community.”
unfortunately, this is what happens when your california governor and legislature fight the presidential administration every step of the way, using lies, deceit, radical lawfare that has no chance of holding up in the supreme court, and other dirty tactics. none of this kind of behavior was happening during the deeply flawed biden administration. you reap what you sow, california.
no, bytez, this is what happens when a moronic man baby becomes president and wants to punish the most populous state FOR NOT VOTING FOR HIM ALL THREE TIMES !! i hope Mar a Lardo is hit with a massive hurricane that deposits hundreds of pythons and alligators in his dining hall. thank you, residents of Watsonville, for joining me once again in Watsonville city plaza on July 17 to express outrage at this evil corrupt fascist.