The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allocated approximately $70 million from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) to the Port of Los Angeles, marking a record level of funding for harbor maintenance and infrastructure improvements at the nation’s busiest container gateway.
The funding is part of a broader $131.8 million allocation to the San Pedro Bay port complex and comes as federal reforms begin to redirect a greater share of HMTF revenue back to so-called “donor ports” that generate significant cargo tax contributions but historically received limited reinvestment.
The HMTF is supported by a 0.125% tax on imported cargo moving through U.S. ports and is used to fund maintenance of federally authorized navigation channels and related infrastructure. While ports like Los Angeles contribute a substantial portion of total HMTF revenue, they have traditionally received a disproportionately small share due to their naturally deep harbors and reduced dredging requirements, an LA Port statement highlighted.
The statement noted legislative reforms enacted in 2020, along with additional measures passed in 2026, have aimed to correct that imbalance by ensuring more consistent and equitable distribution of funds. For fiscal year 2026, Congress appropriated $3.245 billion in total HMTF funding, including $416.8 million specifically designated for donor and energy ports under the Water Resources Development Act.
At the Port of Los Angeles, the funding will support a range of maintenance, repair, and resiliency projects. Planned work includes dredging, seismic upgrades, wharf and fender repairs, pile replacement, sediment remediation, and improvements to slips and navigation channels.
The port has identified more than $6 billion in eligible projects, many of which are ready to advance as funding becomes available. Priority efforts include repairs at berths 49-50, a retrofit at berth 305, and a major seismic upgrade at berth 126, along with improvements to marine oil terminals and environmental remediation projects.
Port officials indicate the funding will help accelerate long-delayed maintenance work while supporting operational efficiency and safety across the harbor complex. The investment also aligns with broader efforts to strengthen supply chain resilience and maintain the competitiveness of U.S. ports handling high volumes of international trade.
