AAPA praises Trump budget for continuing port infrastructure grants but vows to fight $1 billion cut in HMTF

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) praised the proposed Trump Administration Fiscal Year 2026 budget for “significant increases “in the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) but opposed proposed “deep cuts” to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) that will undermine “deep harbors that are properly maintained.”

On May 2^nd, AAPA President and CEO, Cary Davis explained: “With robust proposed funding for competitive grants like PIDP and INFRA in President Trump’s FY26 Budget, this Administration deserves tremendous credit for prioritizing the interests and needs of our nation’s maritime industry. Regrettably, the billion-dollar proposed cuts to the self-sustaining HMTF are incompatible with the Administration’s desire and aims to revitalize our nation’s maritime industry and power. A strong maritime industry requires deep harbors that are properly maintained. We call on Congress to continue releasing the unspent balance accumulated in the HMTF.”

While noting that the figures in the proposed budget are a signal for Congress but are not final, AAPA said it “will commend the positive signals and push back against those that undermine the strength of America’s ports.”

AAPA plans the following actions to restore HMTF funding:

• Submitting formal recommendations for the FY25 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan, urging full implementation of Section 102 of WRDA 2020; and
• Organizing a CEO sign-on letter co-signed by over 45 ports and maritime organizations, calling on OMB and USACE to allocate funds according to WRDA 2020.

AAPA said: “The Harbor Maintenance Tax should be spent on harbor maintenance. AAPA will continue to hold Congress and the Administration accountable to promises made to fully unlock and use all available HMTF dollars.”

Meanwhile, it said that President Trump’s FY26 Budget Request includes $550 million for PIDP, on top of the already appropriated $450 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. If enacted, “PIDP would have $1 billion available in competitive grants in FY26.”