FY27 President's Budget Released
The administration has released the FY27 President's Budget request to Congress, outlining topline spending targets and major program eliminations. The detailed FY 2027 budget request is expected in May. This is simply part of the process that kicks off the appropriations season. Congress ultimately controls spending levels, and in prior years lawmakers from both parties have rejected many of these same proposals.
Here are some of AIA's priorities that the President's budget affects, but we want to reiterate these White House requests are only requests and the Congress will ultimately decide what programs are funded and at what levels:
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The FY 2027 budget would eliminate federal funding for LIHEAP. Outside analyses estimate that roughly 6 million low-income households would lose help with heating, cooling, and basic energy security if Congress adopted this proposal.
FEMA non disaster grant programs
Within the Department of Homeland Security, the budget targets FEMA's non disaster grant portfolio for a 1.3-billion-dollar reduction, effectively eliminating most ongoing preparedness and mitigation grants that are not tied to a specific declared disaster. This would significantly constrain state and local investments in pre disaster resilience, hardening of public facilities, and community safety projects that many architecture firms support and design.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
The budget again proposes to eliminate the Community Development Block Grant program at HUD. This is the sixth time a Trump budget requested the end of CDBG. Congress has consistently rejected this request and funded the program.
HOME Investment Partnerships Program
The President's budget eliminates the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. HOME is one of the primary federal tools for financing affordable rental housing, homeownership opportunities, and rehabilitation, and helps many affordable housing projects pencil out.
We are submitting testimony to the congressional committees that determine spending levels over the next few weeks, including a wide range of our priorities from student loans to energy efficiency, to historic preservation and beyond.
Ballroom Update
A federal appeals court has asked a Washington judge to clarify his ruling halting construction of a proposed 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom backed by Donald Trump, keeping the project on pause for now. The case centers on whether the demolition of the historic East Wing exceeded executive authority without congressional approval. Advocacy from design professionals-including American Institute of Architects members-alongside public input has helped elevate preservation concerns, strengthen legal arguments for delay, and build momentum among stakeholders seeking to stop the project altogether.
Housing Bill
GAPP staff are meeting with housing staff in the House Financial Services Committee to find out next steps. The Senate wants the House to pass its bill and the House prefers their version. Staffers are optimistic about something getting passed, but no one is sure how that's going to happen. We are working with Rep. Mike Flood (R- NE), chairman of the Housing & Insurance subcommittee to get report language submitted into the Transportation, Housing & Urban Development Appropriations bill that will require more work on the Build America Buy America (BABA) Act and the efficiency of the waiver system.
AIA and Architects Council of Europe Discuss Collaboration Opportunities
AIA President Illya Azaroff, FAIA, President of AIA Continent Europe Nicholas Gililand, AIA, AIA Global Practice Committee Chair Stephanie Kinnick, AIA, Bruce Herrington, AIA, and members of the AIA Government Affairs and Public Policy team met with leadership from the Architects Council of Europe (ACE) on April 1st to discuss policy challenges in the U.S. and Europe. Affordable housing and public procurement featured prominently on the agenda, where both parties outlined the issues they face and potential interventions. AIA's GAPP team will continue to engage with ACE in pursuit of shaping policy to benefit our members.
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Courtney Prentiss, AIA, NOMA, NCARB
AIA Government Affairs Committee Member
Immediate Past NAC At-Large Director, Advocacy
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