Senators Coons, Blunt Rochester Celebrate $75M in Federal Funding for Delaware

The U.S. Senate advanced the first set of fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills, which include more than $75 million in federal funding designated for Delaware. The three bills—passed with bipartisan support—allocate funding to the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, military construction projects, and legislative branch operations. The measures do not include the budget reductions that were proposed in the President’s request. Current government funding is set to expire on September 30th. Under the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill, Delaware is in line to receive more than $6 million for local community projects, including: $2 million for capital improvements at La Red’s Georgetown health center and $720,000 for improvements to La Red’s Seaford health center. Under the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill, Delaware is in line to receive $70.6 million for several military construction projects, including: 

• $7.5 million for upgrades to the Dagsboro Army National Guard Readiness Center

• $42 million for a new operations facility for the 512th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base 
• $8.1 million to design a new aircraft maintenance hangar at Dover Air Force Base

Additional information:

“Delaware farmers and growers, those seeking health care in southern Delaware, and our veterans have plenty to celebrate in the bills my Senate colleagues and I passed last week,” said Senator Coons. “As Delaware’s sole appropriator, I’ll keep working in the Senate to ensure communities up and down our state see the benefits of federal funding. I am pleased to see the passage of the first three funding bills with bipartisan support, and I’m committed to working with my colleagues to ensure our government remains open and meets the needs of Delawareans.” 

“I am proud to have stood alongside Senator Coons and an overwhelming, bipartisan coalition of our colleagues to pass these bills. This delivers a win for Delaware’s veterans, farmers and growers, and those seeking health care in our state,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “The focus now turns toward passing the remaining appropriations bills and ensuring the needs of Delawareans are met.”

Under the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill, Delaware is in line to receive more than $6 million for local community projects, including:

• $2.208 million to the Delaware Division of Communications to upgrade emergency radio towers in Kent and Sussex Counties
• $2 million for capital improvements at La Red’s Georgetown health center
• $1.126 million for energy efficiency upgrades at the Food Bank of Delaware’s Newark facility
• $720,000 for improvements to La Red’s Seaford health center

Under the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill, Delaware is in line to receive $70.6 million for several military construction projects, including:

• $42 million for a new operations facility for the 512th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base 
• $8.1 million to design a new aircraft maintenance hangar at Dover Air Force Base
• $8 million to construct a new main gate at the Air National Guard facility in New Castle
• $7.5 million for upgrades to the Dagsboro Army National Guard Readiness Center
• $2.8 million to design a commercial gate relocation project at Dover
• $2.2 million for planning improvements to the Wilmington Readiness Center