Since 2022, Water Solutions Fund has worked to ensure water-related federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) prioritizes both nature and equity. Overall, WSF has committed approximately $16 million in pooled funding to support the development of innovative water-related projects, inform agency policy and program design, and strengthen the power of a community-led movement for water. 

That support has helped Water Solutions Fund grantees collaborate on applications that secured more than $425 million in federal funding for projects and cooperative agreements with the US Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI). These projects have advanced watershed restoration, climate resilience, urban green infrastructure, fish passage improvements, abandoned mine cleanups, and water supply projects. 

We have also tracked or supported approximately $186 million in additional aligned private funding for water infrastructure IIJA/IRA implementation. While the current federal context poses a threat to this remarkable progress, Water Solutions Fund is continuing to champion the benefits of federal infrastructure funding and is working with partners to retain these vital investments. We have already seen a few positive shifts among conservative decision makers who recognize the multiple benefits of water investments for their constituents, particularly among lawmakers standing up to protect the SRF program.  

Working With Grantees in a New Political Landscape

The current administration’s approach to public funding has left the fate of many water-related federal programs uncertain. As cuts have been made, a few trends have become clear: Many grantees with more environment or conservation-focused grants, particularly at USDA and DOI, have emerged relatively unscathed. On the other hand, programs at EPA or those focused on equity, environmental justice, or climate have been terminated or paused indefinitely. One of the most significant programs cancelled outright was FEMA’s $5 billion Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. A December 2025 district court decision requires, however, that FEMA reverse the termination and restore the program, so it may appear again in 2026. 

With notable exceptions, trends indicate that this administration has relatively greater interest in traditional conservation and preservation than in investing in rural or underserved communities and public infrastructure. Across all agencies, we have also observed that new grant programs created by IIJA/IRA have been most susceptible to elimination. 

Amid this dynamic situation and lack of clarity on the FY 2026 federal budget, Water Solutions Fund is providing partners with legal, cybersecurity, and financial assistance so they can navigate the current context for these critical water infrastructure projects. WSF is committed to defending pots of funding that have not yet been cut, while maintaining the movement infrastructure that allows regional and community-based organizations to continue advancing on-the-ground projects that generate positive water impacts for communities and nature. A critical component of this work also involves supporting local leaders to increase and sustain their engagement at the federal level to communicate the powerful impact of water projects back to Congress.   

America Wins With Water 

WSF leaned into its America Wins With Water communications campaign in 2025. For our audience, we prioritized states and districts that have specifically benefited from water infrastructure investments, such as areas impacted by hurricanes and floods. 

AWWW targeted digital ad buys across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Truth Social, connected and streaming TV, and audio channels. We also explored other areas of influence, partnering with content creators on TikTok and Reels and developing a two-part podcast series with Lemonada. 

Since late February 2025 through the end of 2025, America Wins With Water has generated more than 20,000 letters to members of Congress highlighting the importance of investing in water infrastructure. The America Wins With Water website has seen nearly 132,000 new visitors just in 2025. We also built an organic list of 4,400+ emails and 1,100+ phone numbers of AWWW supporters who we can reach out to easily for bigger actions, such as making calls or attending in-person events. All of AWWW’s advertising this year has culminated in more than 8.3 million impressions.

Next Steps in 2026

In 2026, WSF is eager to capitalize on the success of its communications efforts in priority districts. Our goal is to double the amount of letters sent by broadening our audience to include more likely action takers on high-performing platforms like Meta. We will also focus our targeting on a narrower range of audiences: Republicans, action takers, and the water industry. We will test unifying messages, messages about the threats facing our infrastructure, and water contaminant messaging to learn which audiences respond best to which frames. These learnings will be used to update creative assets ahead of the 2026 midterm election, so we can iterate based on new findings to make water a priority talking point in the lead up to what is going to be a consequential and crowded (in terms of messaging!) election. It will also be integral to bolster the water movement by engaging existing subscribers and followers with further outreach and advocacy aligned with key federal policy opportunities.