Senate Appropriations Committee preserves Chesapeake Bay Programs in NOAA budget

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a $6.1 billion budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for fiscal year 2026, pushing back against the White House’s proposed $4.5 billion budget. The committee’s version maintains funding for key Chesapeake Bay restoration and education initiatives, which had been targeted for elimination.

The bill provides an additional $1.5 million to NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office, bringing its total to $4.5 million. These funds will support oyster restoration efforts, which play a vital role in both the Bay’s ecosystem and regional seafood economy. Funding for NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program is also preserved at $8.7 million.

In addition, the Senate bill allocates $2.5 million for improved research on menhaden, a critical forage fish species that supports the broader marine food chain. Virginia, home to the only industrial menhaden fishery on the East Coast, has faced ongoing debate about the species’ management. The funding would support NOAA and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in gathering population data.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation praised the bipartisan effort to protect Bay-related programs, calling NOAA a key partner in regional restoration, science education, and fisheries management. The bill could move to a full Senate vote later this week, while advocates are encouraging the House Appropriations Committee to adopt similar protections.