The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allocated approximately $70 million to the Port of Los Angeles for a series of infrastructure and maintenance works aimed at improving harbor performance, seismic resilience and navigational safety.
The funding comes from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and forms part of a record $131.8 million package for the wider San Pedro Bay complex, which includes the Port of Long Beach and remains the busiest container gateway in the United States.
For years, Los Angeles and other so-called donor ports have contributed more than half of total Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund revenues through taxes on import cargo, while receiving less than 3% of that money back for harbor improvements. Reforms introduced in 2020 were intended to correct that imbalance, and an initial funding round reached donor ports in fiscal 2024. However, no funding was distributed in fiscal 2025, prompting further reforms this year aimed at ensuring more consistent implementation of the new formula.
For fiscal 2026, Congress appropriated $3.245 billion in Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund resources, including $416.8 million specifically earmarked for donor and energy ports under the Water Resources Development Act.
The Port of Los Angeles handled the equivalent of 10.2 million containers in 2025 and generated $301 billion in trade.
Senator Alex Padilla said the latest funding reflects the implementation of reforms Congress passed in 2020 to ensure donor and energy transfer ports receive a fairer share of the funds they generate. He said the allocation would allow Los Angeles and Long Beach to move ahead with essential maintenance and infrastructure projects, including seismic improvements, wharf repairs and other work needed to keep supply chains strong and resilient.
Senator Adam Schiff also welcomed the funding, describing the Port of Los Angeles as a major economic engine for both California and the wider US. He said the investment would support long-overdue maintenance and safety improvements and help preserve the port’s standing as a leading global trade hub.
Port executive director Gene Seroka said the port still faces more than $6 billion in navigational maintenance and repair needs. He said the new funding would help accelerate repair work and ensure the port’s infrastructure continues to meet world-class standards.
Los Angeles plans to use the allocation for priority works including dredging, seismic upgrades, wharf and fender repairs, pile replacement, sediment removal and remediation, and improvements to slips and navigation channels.
