Federal Maritime Commission requests $40 million for FY2026 as staff departures raise concerns

The Federal Maritime Commission asked Congress to keep its funding at $40 million for fiscal 2026 as the agency contends with recent personnel losses and a planned information-technology upgrade.

Commissioner Rebecca Dye, a member of the Federal Maritime Commission, told the House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation that the FY2026 request is "level funding" from FY2025 and that the majority of the budget is earmarked for personnel, office space and information technology.

Dye said the commission budgeted $25,800,000 for employee salary and benefits, $4,200,000 for rent and security services and $6,000,000 for core IT operations and modernization. She said 13 employees left under the deferred resignation (voluntary retirement) program and that the commission is seeking OPM exemptions…