Western Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation just brought home a serious stack of federal cash, snagging about $406 million in earmarks for nearly 200 local projects this year. A hefty slice is headed for a major overhaul on the Ohio River, with the rest spread across locks, bridges, workforce training, and museum programs in Beaver County and Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Lawmakers from both parties signed onto many of the requests, a reminder that when it comes to steering Washington money back home, bipartisanship suddenly gets a lot easier.
They are also riding a larger national wave. Congressional earmarks bounced back this fiscal year to roughly $15.7 billion for thousands of local projects nationwide, according to E&E News. In Western Pennsylvania, the $406 million figure comes from a review of appropriations records, which also shows lawmakers requested another $5.8 million in the still-pending Homeland Security bill. As outlined by TribLIVE, the local earmarks span infrastructure, housing, public safety, and cultural initiatives.
Montgomery Locks Wins Biggest Slice
The single largest local earmark, about $183.8 million, is headed to the long-planned upgrade of the Montgomery Locks and Dam on the Ohio River in Beaver County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Pittsburgh District has already awarded a construction contract of nearly $770 million in late 2024, and the new lock chamber is one piece of a much larger modernization effort of roughly $1.6 billion that is expected to run through 2033. Those project details come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, while the earmark amount appears in a funding list published by Sen. Dave McCormick's Office.
Who Got the Money
In the regional tally, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman led the way with about $289.1 million spread across 121 projects. He was followed closely by Sen. Dave McCormick, who pulled in roughly $275.8 million. On the House side, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler secured about $214 million for 15 projects, while Rep. Chris Deluzio landed roughly $193.5 million.
The earmark lists read like a tour of Western Pennsylvania and beyond. Tree of Life Inc. in Pittsburgh is set to receive $1.2 million for educational programming, the Battle of Homestead Foundation is in line for $174,000 to digitize labor-history archives, and the African American Museum in Philadelphia is tagged for $415,000. The totals were compiled from appropriations listings and information released by Rep. Summer Lee's Office.
Supporters argue that earmarks let elected officials steer money toward local priorities that might otherwise lose out in competitive grant contests. Watchdogs counter that the practice can sidestep merit-based review and invite political favoritism, especially as national earmark totals keep climbing. Local leaders, for their part, are focused on the jobs and services they say will follow these investments, even as some of the money is still tied up in pending appropriations. With project timelines staggered, residents can expect a slow drip of awards and construction activity through the rest of the year and stretching into the next decade. For a broader look at how lawmakers across the country are using earmarks, see the national breakdown from E&E News.
