Architect of the Capitol & Librarian of Congress FY26 Budget Hearing

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Requests

• 🏛️ The Senate Appropriations Committee convened a hearing for the fiscal year 2026 budget requests of the Library of Congress and the Architect of the Capitol.
• 💰 The Library of Congress requested $946.2 million, a 5.4% increase, for IT modernization, digital capacity, and accessibility.
• 🏗️ The Architect of the Capitol requested over $1.3 billion, a 61% increase, primarily for infrastructure projects and addressing deferred maintenance.

Library of Congress Priorities

• 📚 Dr. Hayden highlighted the need for adequate staffing, noting a decline in the permanent workforce since the 1990s.
• 💡 Key programmatic requests include preservation, an object storage upgrade, web application delivery improvements, and the continuous development of the enterprise copyright system.
• 📈 The library also resubmitted requests for CRS data capacity, digital collections processing, and digital accessibility, with revised funding levels.

Architect of the Capitol's Mission

• 👷 Mr. Austin emphasized the agency's mission to preserve historic buildings, serve 20,000 daily occupants, and accommodate 3 million annual visitors.
• 🛠️ The FY26 request focuses on life safety, physical security, and critical infrastructure needs, supported by adequate staffing for planning and project management.
• 🗺️ A capital complex master plan is being developed to inform project priorities for the next several years, addressing aging infrastructure and a significant maintenance backlog.

Operational Challenges and Needs

• ⏳ Both agencies discussed challenges related to aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance, and the need for modernization.
• 🧑‍💻 The Library of Congress is working on its visitor experience project, with the Treasures Gallery open and an education center set to open by late 2025.
• ⚖️ A significant discussion point was the backlog of over $1.4 billion in undistributed copyright royalty fees, with a commitment to explore solutions for more timely distribution.

Staffing and Resource Allocation

• 📊 The Architect of the Capitol is requesting 57 additional positions to address staffing shortfalls, including electricians, plumbers, HR specialists, and visitor guides.
• 📈 The agency is working to reduce its vacancy rate and improve time-to-hire metrics.
• 💰 A wage grade study is underway to assess pay competitiveness with the private sector and other federal agencies to address recruitment and retention, particularly for skilled trades.