First Time Here?
Create an Account
Senator Whitehouse is now accepting applications for Congressionally Directed Spending requests for Fiscal Year 2026. Requests must be submitted via electronic application by March 21, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
The annual Congressionally Directed Spending process allows Members of Congress to request that federal funds be set aside for specific projects in their states. This is an opportunity for state, local, and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations to apply to obtain funding for projects that would benefit from a one-time allocation of federal funds.
Any CDS request that Senator Whitehouse submits to the Appropriations Committee must comply with Senate Rule XLIV.
Please be aware that this is application may be subject to change depending on additional Committee guidance. Staff will work with applicants to vet projects and help determine eligibility for projects. Additional materials and documents may be required for official submission as the Fiscal Year 2026 budgetary process advances.
Only projects based in Rhode Island and submitted by Rhode Island applicants will be considered. Eligible applicants include local and state government, IRS registered non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education. For-profit entities are not eligible to receive Congressionally Directed Spending.
Eligible Accounts: A specific list of accounts under which CDS requests were supported in the Fiscal Year 2025 process is available on our website. This website will be updated accordingly with updated Fiscal Year 2026 guidance. Please note, eligible accounts may change as further guidance is provided by the Appropriations Committee.
Transparency: Please note all CDS requests selected for official submission will be made public to ensure transparency and accountability. Submission of any CDS request should not be construed as a guarantee that funding will be requested or awarded.
Application Process: This application will be used to help staff vet your request. Entities submitting an official application in the coming months will be required to provide a letter of community support and a letter of certification as described in the electronic application. Submission of this application should not be construed as a guarantee that funding will be requested or awarded. Unless specified, fiscal year 2025 requests do not carry over to the new fiscal year.
Disclaimer: CDS requests are not an application for federal grant funding. Submission of requests does not constitute a binding commitment on any party nor a guarantee that any organization will be awarded funding from any federal agency through this process. Furthermore, the submission, review, and approval of applications for federal funding will be carried out consistent with federal agency rules and regulations.
Senator Whitehouse's staff is available to provide feedback and answer questions about the process. Please send any inquiries to Nisa Pistacchio (nisa_pistacchio@whitehouse.senate.gov) and our CDS inbox (CDS_@whitehouse.senate.gov).