AUSTIN, Texas — Recent cuts to federal spending are set to impact projects in Austin.
According to the city, approximately $9.7 million in funding that had been requested will not be available this year following a continuing resolution signed by President Trump on March 15 that will impact all pending Congressional Community Funding (CCF) requests.
CCF requests are funds provided by Congress and directed by members to specific projects within their districts. Since CCFs returned in 2022, the city of Austin has received approximately $23.6 million through CCF requests.
This year’s funding requests in Austin included funding projects like the Waterloo Greenway Creek Restoration and Water Quality Improvements, Austin Community Violence Intervention, Dove Springs Early Childhood Education Center and the Oak Brook extension of the Northern Walnut Creek Trail.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) decried that funding will not be available for some projects in Austin, which included requests from both he and fellow Austin-area U.S. Rep. Greg Casar. In a statement, Doggett levied the blame on Republicans in the U.S. House.
“The fiscally irresponsible insistence of House Republicans that federal government funding limp along from one short-term continuing resolution to another rather than approving annual appropriation bills also eliminates every community project direct appropriation proposed by any Congressmember,” Doggett said. “I worked for months with the City, the SAFE Alliance, and AISD to develop and gain Appropriation Subcommittee approval for worthwhile projects that meet genuine local needs. Now that effort is most regretfully lost, though I will look for an opportunity to try again in next year’s Appropriation bill.”
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said that city leaders will look for different ways to pay for the projects.
“While the news that anticipated funding for these important community projects will not be available this fiscal year is certainly disappointing, we will not abandon these efforts,” Watson said. “The city will continue to prioritize and seek to identify ways to fund important projects. We are also hopeful that earmarks will be considered in Fiscal Year 2026 and stand ready to assist our Congressional delegation in championing the needs of Austinites.”