Appropriations
Senator Kim is interested in hearing from you about funding that benefits New Jersey and our nation.
Constituents wishing to express their thoughts on federal appropriations can do so by contacting Senator Kim.
You can view Senator Kim’s FY26 Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) requests in the FY26 CDS disclosures.
Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS)
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, the Senate Appropriations Committee accepted requests for Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS), allowing Senators to set aside federal funds for specific projects in their states. This is an important opportunity for eligible entities to apply to obtain funding for projects that would benefit from a one-time allocation of funds.
Senator Kim’s Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request forms for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 are now closed for submission.
The annual appropriations process is lengthy, with uncertain timing, and there is no guarantee that CDS requests will ultimately be included in the FY2026 spending bills. Due to nuanced eligibility criteria and limited available funds, many requests will not move forward, and not all projects chosen to advance will ultimately receive funding.
More About Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) Requests
Learn About CDS
On December 16, 2025, Senator Kim’s office held a webinar for public and non-profit groups across New Jersey to discuss federal grants, the federal appropriations process, and best practices for a successful CDS application. For more information, please watch the webinar and view the slide deck.
CDS proposals should be viewed as one-year funding that will either create a new program/activity or expand an existing program/activity. CDS should not be viewed as a way to sustain a program/activity over multiple years.
Submitting Requests
- Submission of an application does not guarantee that funding will be appropriated.
- You must read the latest appropriations guidance to determine eligibility before project submission. Click here to see guidance for FY26.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to Senator Kim’s staff early regarding requests. Our team will be available to answer questions during this entire process; however, we cannot accommodate individual meetings for every application.
- You must include a detailed and updated budget for the proposed project.
- Some Appropriations Subcommittees require a cost-share. If your project falls within one of these accounts, you must be able to meet the cost-sharing requirements. Required matching funds can range from 25% – 75% of the project cost.
Requests Review Process
Once a request is submitted, it will go through an internal review process to ensure the project is eligible for funding and has a substantial benefit to the community. If needed, Senator Kim’s staff may be in touch with the recipient organization’s point of contact to discuss the request and follow up on any outstanding needs.
For any questions, please email appropriations@kim.senate.gov.
Programmatic Funding
The vast majority of federal discretionary spending, including most of the federal funding granted to entities in New Jersey, qualifies as programmatic funding. Programmatic funds can come in the form of discretionary grants, which are made by federal agencies 1) on a competitive basis (i.e.., requiring an application; loans) or 2) using a formula determined by statute. State, county, and local governments, organizations, or other communities that benefit, or stand to benefit, from existing federal programs can advocate for an increase in resources to those programs by submitting programmatic funding requests to Senator Kim.
Related Resources
