On June 2, 2025, the FCC requested a $416.1 million budget for fiscal year 2026, effective October 1, 2025, a 6.6% increase from FY 2025. The hike aims to support the Broadband DATA Act, which mandates improved collection, verification, and reporting of broadband availability data to enhance high-speed connectivity nationwide.
Conversely, the FCC proposes a 3% cut to its Spectrum Auction Program, requesting $132 million. This program, which allocates federally owned spectrum to commercial bidders, lapsed in March 2023.
The FCC also plans significant staff reductions, continuing a trend from 2,122 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in 1995 to a projected 1,404 by 2026. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, noting the current 1,383 FTEs as of May 19, attributes the cuts to early retirements, deferred resignations, and natural turnover, aligning with a focus on digital infrastructure.
The FY 2026 budget targets four strategic goals: accelerating high-speed internet deployment, promoting national security and public safety, protecting consumers and free speech, and enhancing efficiency while reducing waste.
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