FY26 Appropriations Update: Funding Increases Finalized for Key Energy Efficiency Programs

On January 23, President Trump signed the fiscal year 2026 federal budget into law, and it keeps money flowing to several programs that help pay for home energy upgrades. The Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps lower-income households seal up and insulate their homes, got $369 million, a $3 million increase over last year. The State Energy Program, which funds state-level efficiency efforts, stayed flat at $66 million. The Residential Buildings Integration program, which supports research and programs tied to home efficiency, rose to $65 million, up $5 million. And EPA's ENERGY STAR program, which certifies efficient appliances and homes, got $33 million, a $1 million bump.

None of these increases were guaranteed. Earlier in 2025, these programs faced proposals to cut or eliminate their funding entirely. Advocacy from building-performance groups, contractors, and homeowners who signed support letters helped push Congress to maintain and grow the funding instead.

For homeowners, this means the federal programs that fund weatherization assistance and support state and local energy-efficiency efforts remain in place for the coming year, with slightly more money behind them than before. If you've looked into weatherization help or state energy programs in the past, this funding continuing means those resources should still be available, though specifics on eligibility and how the money reaches individual households vary by state and program.