Appropriations & CDS Requests

FY26 Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) Requests

Senator Kim’s Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request forms are now OPEN for submission. The deadline for all applications is Monday, April 21, 2025 at 11:59pm (ET). For any questions, please email appropriations@kim.senate.gov.

The annual appropriations process is lengthy, with uncertain timing, and there is no guarantee that Congressionally Directed Spending requests will ultimately be included in the FY 2026 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.

Please refer to our FY 2026 guidance to determine project proposal eligibility.

A few points to keep in mind:

• 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.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to Senator Kim’s staff early regarding requests.
• You must include a detailed and updated budget for the proposed project.
• Some Appropriations Subcommittees require a cost-match. If your project falls within one of these accounts, you must be able to meet the cost-match. Cost-match can range from 25% – 75%.
• Keys to a strong proposal are (but not limited to):
  • The flexibility in budget and timeline. Does the project have other funding sources? Does the project have a phased timeline? Can the project be scaled based on available funding? Provide as much information on the project’s flexibility when submitting a CDS application. Please update Senator Kim’s staff if anything changes.
  • The ability to clearly communicate how the project will execute the mission of the program account it is being requested under. Appropriations Committee staff follow the federal program requirements to determine eligibility for projects. Please refer to the latest guidance, FY 2026 Appropriations Guidance.
• 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.
• 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 will be in touch with the point of contact for recipient organizations to discuss the request, ask additional questions, receive clarity on submitted proposals.