Trump Administration Awards $498 Million for U.S. Port Upgrades, Below Recent Funding Levels

The Trump administration announced $498 million in federal grants Tuesday to modernize U.S. ports, funding 35 projects across 19 states ranging from aging dock replacements and cargo-handling equipment to fuel terminal upgrades and advanced maritime monitoring systems.

The funding, awarded through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), is aimed at improving cargo movement, expanding capacity and strengthening supply chains at coastal seaports, Great Lakes facilities and inland river ports.

While significant, the latest round is smaller than the grants awarded in each of the previous four fiscal years.

MARAD awarded $774 million to 37 projects in fiscal year 2025, announced this past April, compared with approximately $580 million in 2024, $653 million in 2023 and $703 million in 2022.

The new $498 million round is roughly 36% below last year’s total and 26% below the average awarded over the previous four fiscal years.

Among the largest recipients is the City of Whittier, Alaska, which will receive $50.6 million to replace the DeLong Dock, install a seasonal floating dock and acquire three pedestal cranes along with an integrated tug and barge.

Port Everglades in Florida will receive $30.75 million to strengthen its liquid bulk terminal, widen a slip to accommodate larger vessels and improve resilience to severe weather. The improvements are intended to help maintain critical fuel operations during storms.

In North Carolina, the state ports authority will receive $11.25 million for upgrades at the Port of Morehead City, including new heavy-lift cargo infrastructure, crane rails and expanded on-dock rail connections. The project also includes security and cargo-tracking technology.

The Red Wing Port Authority in Minnesota will receive $10.2 million to rebuild barge-loading infrastructure along the Mississippi River, including conveyors, an electric winch and dust collection systems. The project will also elevate critical equipment above the river’s floodplain.

In Texas, Port Freeport will receive $9.4 million to replace an aging bulk rice loader and expand cargo-handling space, while the Port of Corpus Christi will receive $7.2 million to develop a digital twin of its infrastructure. The Corpus Christi project will incorporate LiDAR, sonar, cameras and other sensing technologies to provide continuous monitoring of port facilities and transportation connections.

Smaller projects include nearly $699,000 for Rockport Harbor in Maine to construct a new commercial fishing pier designed to improve transfers of seafood from vessels to trucks.

“The strength of our nation’s economy is directly tied to the state of our ports,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. “This nearly half-billion-dollar investment will deliver critical upgrades to ports across America so we can enhance supply chains, lower shipping costs, and create good-paying jobs for hardworking Americans.”

MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmel described the awards as part of the administration’s broader maritime revitalization effort.

“The President’s commitment to modernizing our port and maritime infrastructure has resulted in an unprecedented investment that will empower local port communities to modernize their operations, integrate innovative technologies, and create safer working environments,” Carmel said.

Funding Outlook Beyond 2026

The grants come as one of the federal government’s largest dedicated sources of port infrastructure funding approaches a transition.

Much of the current funding stems from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, which provided $2.25 billion for the PIDP over five years, including $450 million annually from fiscal 2022 through 2026.

The Trump administration has proposed maintaining $500 million in PIDP funding for fiscal 2027, including $50 million through regular appropriations and another $450 million through a proposed Maritime Security Trust Fund, a central component of the administration’s maritime revitalization strategy.

The investments come as the administration pursues its broader maritime dominance agenda, which includes expanding U.S. shipbuilding capacity, strengthening the merchant marine and modernizing maritime infrastructure.