Key Takeaways
- The USDA has opened FY2026 applications for its Research Facilities Act program, backed by $125 million in annual funding secured through President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts.
- USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will administer the competitive program, with grants ranging from $100,000 planning awards to $30 million large-scale construction projects.
- All applicants must match federal funding dollar-for-dollar with non-federal cash contributions, and eligible institutions may only receive funding for one project at a time.
- Eligible projects span planning assessments, lab modernizations, facility expansions, and entirely new research complexes across four defined funding levels.
- The announcement followed a roundtable at USDA headquarters attended by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, and land-grant university leaders.
USDA Opens FY2026 Research Facilities Act Applications
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the opening of its FY2026 funding opportunity under the Research Facilities Act program, backed by $125 million in annual funding. The announcement came during a roundtable at USDA headquarters where Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon met with land-grant university leaders to discuss the state of agricultural research infrastructure across the country.
The investment, made possible through President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts, is designed to address decades of deferred maintenance and accelerate modernization of research facilities at U.S. land-grant institutions.
“A nation that cannot feed itself is not secure and for too long, many of our land-grant universities have faced aging facilities and mounting deferred maintenance costs that threaten their ability to conduct world-class agricultural research. Today we are announcing a $125 million investment to ensure America's farmers and ranchers continue to benefit from the innovation that secures our vital U.S. agriculture industry and allows us to feed, clothe, and fuel not only our nation but the world,” said Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, who co-hosted the roundtable alongside Secretary Rollins, also weighed in on the role land-grant universities have played in shaping American agriculture over more than a century.
“Agricultural advancement is not an accident of history; it is the product of generations of Americans' hard work and ingenuity. Our land-grant universities have driven agricultural development for more than a century — advancing critical scientific breakthroughs, pioneering cutting-edge technologies, and cultivating dedicated Americans who have strengthened America's food and farming systems. Thanks to President Trump, today's investment ensures these institutions continue to anchor American strength at home while leading the world in competitiveness,” said Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education.
Four Funding Levels Outlined
The Research Facilities Act program is structured around four distinct tiers, each targeting a different scale of infrastructure need:
- Level I — Planning Grants: $100,000 to $200,000 for needs assessments, site surveys, preliminary designs, and cost estimates
- Level II — Small Facility Upgrades: $250,000 to $2 million for renovations and lab modernization
- Level III — Mid-Scale Construction/Expansion: $2 million to $10 million for expansions, specialized research wings, and major retrofits
- Level IV — Large-Scale Research Complex: $10 million to $30 million for new buildings, specialized labs, and controlled environment research facilities
Each applicant is required to match the federal grant with an equal non-federal cash contribution, and eligible institutions may only receive funding for one project at a time.
USDA NIFA to Administer Competitive Program
USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture will oversee the competitive grant process. NIFA Director Dr. Jaye L. Hamby highlighted the 164-year history of collaboration between USDA and land-grant institutions while looking ahead to the program's potential impact.
“For 164 years, USDA has partnered with America's great land-grant and agricultural universities to produce the discoveries, service, and education needed to keep the nation fed and to fuel U.S. agricultural progress around the world. This investment reaffirms our commitment to that valued partnership and to the next generation of agriculturists. We are excited to see the tremendous impact this program will have to accelerate research from the lab to the marketplace and the fields to improve profitability for our farmers, ranchers, and producers and secure our nation's food supply,” said Dr. Jaye L. Hamby, NIFA Director.
USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics and Chief Scientist Dr. Scott H. Hutchins also noted the importance of well-equipped facilities for the next generation of agricultural scientists.
“Agricultural innovation has enabled our nation to feed millions, eradicate emerging threats, and maintain one of the safest food supplies in the world. The Research Facilities Act program will ensure that future food and agricultural research is conducted in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with cutting-edge tools. This program is a win for American agriculture and for the next generation of scientists and producers,” said Dr. Scott H. Hutchins, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics and Chief Scientist.
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