Washington Waves: Waterway News From D.C.

The Trump administration’s proposed fiscal year 2027 funding cuts for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation drew bipartisan pushback from leaders of a key House panel.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), chairman of the House Energy and Water Subcommittee, said the Corps’ budget request of $6.7 billion represented a reduction of more than $3 billion from the enacted level for the current fiscal year.

Fleischmann also pointed out the $1.7 billion provided for Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund-eligible activities is less than half of the maximum offset provided for in law.

“I look forward to working in FY27 to ensure adequate funding to maintain our nation’s ports and harbors to their authorized dimensions,” he said.

Fleischmann was more direct on the roughly 22% cut proposed in the administration’s $1.3 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project.

“I am concerned that, at this level, we will not be able to address the most pressing water resources needs across the West,” he said.

As expected, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), the panel’s ranking member, was more critical, describing the proposed cuts of $3.8 billion or 36% for the Corps and $358 million for the Bureau as “misguided” and even “dangerous.”

Kaptur warned cuts of that size will end up eroding the nation’s infrastructure and putting Americans’ lives at risk while President Donald Trump is asking for more to fund a war abroad.

FEMA Head Nomination Expected

Cameron Hamilton, removed last year as acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is expected to be nominated by President Donald Trump to head the agency on a permanent basis, according to multiple news reports.

If that happens, some believe it will be yet another signal that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is moving beyond the contentious leadership of Kristi Noem, his predecessor.

Hamilton was dismissed last year after telling Congress that FEMA should not be eliminated, which was viewed at the time as a break with the Trump administration’s plan.

Instead, he wanted changes to the agency.

That appears to be in line with what Mullin told senators during his confirmation hearing.

“It needs to be restructured, not eliminated,” he said of FEMA.

In response to a request to the administration on the reports concerning a possible Hamilton nomination, a FEMA spokesperson said, “We have no personnel matters to announce at this time.”

NMC Issues Third Credentialing Update

The National Maritime Center (NMC) issued its third update to mitigate the impact of the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

Merchant mariner credentials (national endorsements only) and medical certificates (national and pilot expiration dates only) that expire between January 1 and May 31 remain valid until August 31. Mariners who are actively working on expired credentials that meet the expiration criteria must carry the expired credential and a copy of the letter containing the update while sailing under the authority of those credentials.

Credential dispensations may be granted for continued service for mariners operating on endorsements that expired on or after January 1, provided a renewal application was submitted to the NMC and that the employer applied to the Coast Guard for dispensation. Requests for dispensation must be submitted via e-mail with a subject line “STCW Dispensation” to STCWDispensations@uscg.mil and must include the following information: ship name, IMO number, ship tonnage, mariner name, mariner reference number, capacity per STCW regulations, credential issuance and expiration dates, company name, company point of contact and valid mariner e-mail address.

In accordance with existing regulations, when the expiration date of a medical certificate occurs during a voyage, the certificate remains valid for three months from the expiration date.

Qualified assessor and designated examiner certification letters and course approvals that expire between February and May are extended until August 31.

Mariners who began but did not complete all modules of an examination prior to February 13 may resume testing without penalty once the NMC reopens. Testing should be completed within 60 days of reopening. Contact the NMC regarding waivers due to sea service. Ninety-day retest periods are to be paused beginning on February 13 and will restart upon reopening.

For questions, contact Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil or calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

“The Application Submission Portal (ASAP) for submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active,” the NMC stated. “Processing will resume once appropriations are restored.”

OSHA Finalizes Standard Revocation

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it is finalizing the revocation of the agency’s House Falls in Marine Terminals Standard.

Effective April 17, the final rule is viewed as a deregulatory action per Executive Order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” dated February 6, 2025.

“OSHA has determined that this standard is no longer necessary to protect employees working in marine terminals from occupational safety and health hazards,” the agency said April 17 in the Federal Register.

“OSHA stated that the agency’s understanding is that the marine terminals industry does not currently employ house falls because most cargo has been containerized and is moved by cranes.”

Docket No. OSHA-2025-0008 is available at https:// www.regulations.gov.

For additional information, contact Andrew Levinson at 202-693-1950 or osha.dsg@dol.gov.