The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — signed into law on November 15, 2021 — authorized $550 billion in new federal infrastructure spending over five years. As of March 31, 2026, the federal government has disbursed $312 billion of that total, according to the White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator's quarterly report.
That means 56.7% of authorized funds have reached projects and programs with roughly 18 months of the authorization period remaining. The numbers tell a different story depending on which category you examine — some programs are nearly spent out, while others have barely begun flowing.
Here is a full accounting of where every dollar went.
Roads and Highways: $110 Billion Disbursed of $148 Billion Authorized
The largest single category of IIJA spending is surface transportation. The Federal Highway Administration reports that $110 billion in highway formula and competitive grant funds have been obligated and disbursed to state departments of transportation through Q1 2026.
The $148 billion highway authorization includes $118 billion in formula funds distributed to states based on road miles, vehicle miles traveled, and bridge conditions, plus $30 billion in competitive grant programs including RAISE, INFRA, and the new Bridge Investment Program.
According to FHWA data, every state has received its full formula allocation for fiscal years 2022 through 2025. The top five recipient states by total highway formula funding are Texas ($14.2 billion), California ($13.8 billion), Florida ($8.1 billion), New York ($7.6 billion), and Pennsylvania ($7.3 billion).
Competitive grant programs have been more selective. The RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) program received 8,700 applications totaling $180 billion for just $15 billion in available funding, according to the Department of Transportation. The program's acceptance rate of 8.6% makes it one of the most competitive federal grant programs in any sector.
States that moved quickly to develop shovel-ready project plans captured disproportionate shares of competitive funding. Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina each secured more than $1.2 billion in competitive grants, reflecting strong project pipelines and experienced grant-writing teams within their DOTs.
Bridge Repair and Replacement: $40 Billion Authorized, $27 Billion Disbursed
The IIJA created the first dedicated federal bridge program in decades, authorizing $40 billion specifically for bridge repair, rehabilitation, and replacement. Through Q1 2026, $27 billion has been disbursed through a combination of the Bridge Formula Program ($26.5 billion in formula funds) and the Bridge Investment Program ($13.5 billion in competitive grants).
The Bridge Formula Program allocated funds to every state, with distributions based on the percentage of the state's bridge inventory classified as structurally deficient or in poor condition. The states with the most deficient bridges received the largest allocations — a critical factor given the 42,966 structurally deficient bridges nationwide.
According to FHWA quarterly reports, IIJA bridge funding has supported 4,800 bridge projects that have either been completed or are in active construction as of March 2026. An additional 3,200 bridge projects are in design or pre-construction phases.
The largest single bridge project receiving IIJA funds is the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky, which received a $1.6 billion federal commitment — the largest competitive bridge grant in US history.
Water Infrastructure: $55 Billion Authorized, $34 Billion Disbursed
The IIJA authorized $55 billion for water infrastructure — the largest federal investment in clean water in American history, according to the EPA. Through Q1 2026, approximately $34 billion has been disbursed through the State Revolving Funds, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, and direct grants.
The largest single line item within water spending is $15 billion for lead service line replacement, administered through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. According to EPA data, this funding has supported the identification and replacement of approximately 1.8 million lead service lines across 1,300 communities as of Q1 2026.
The second-largest allocation is $12.7 billion for general drinking water system improvements, including treatment plant upgrades, distribution main replacement, and storage facility rehabilitation. An additional $10 billion was allocated for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
PFAS contamination remediation — an emerging priority not explicitly named in the original legislation — has consumed an estimated $3.2 billion of the water infrastructure funds, according to the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, as utilities across the country install granular activated carbon and ion exchange treatment systems to meet EPA's final PFAS standards.
Broadband: $42 Billion Authorized, $18 Billion Disbursed
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is the largest broadband infrastructure investment in US history at $42.45 billion. However, it has also been the slowest IIJA program to disburse funds, with only $18 billion reaching states and territories through Q1 2026.
The delay reflects the program's deliberate structure. NTIA (the National Telecommunications and Information Administration) required each state to complete a detailed Five-Year Action Plan and Initial Proposal before receiving construction funding. All 50 states received their planning allocations by mid-2023, but construction subgrants did not begin flowing until Q2 2025.
According to NTIA data, the top five BEAD allocations are Texas ($3.3 billion), Missouri ($1.7 billion), Virginia ($1.5 billion), Michigan ($1.5 billion), and Alabama ($1.4 billion). These allocations reflect each state's unserved and underserved population as measured by the FCC's Broadband Data Collection maps.
The construction opportunity is enormous. BEAD program rules require funded networks to provide fiber-optic service to the premises in most cases, meaning tens of thousands of miles of fiber cable must be buried or strung on poles. The Fiber Broadband Association estimates that BEAD will fund construction of fiber to 18 million locations, requiring 2.2 million miles of fiber cable, 950,000 new utility poles or pole attachments, and 425,000 miles of underground conduit.
Specialty contractors in directional boring, aerial line installation, and fiber splicing are experiencing acute demand. FMI estimates that the broadband construction workforce must grow by 35,000 workers by 2028 to meet BEAD program timelines.
Public Transit: $39 Billion Authorized, $28 Billion Disbursed
The Federal Transit Administration received $39 billion in IIJA authorization, with $28 billion disbursed through Q1 2026. Major disbursements include the Capital Investment Grants (New Starts/Core Capacity) program, formula grants for bus and rail system maintenance, and the new All Stations Accessibility Program.
The largest single transit project is the Gateway Program between New York and New Jersey, which received $12.1 billion in federal commitments including IIJA funds. The Hudson Tunnel Project — the centerpiece of Gateway — broke ground in November 2024 and is scheduled for completion in 2035.
Other major transit projects receiving IIJA funds include the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 in New York ($3.4 billion federal share), the Los Angeles Metro D Line extension ($2.6 billion), and the San Francisco Bay Area's Link21 program ($1.8 billion in early planning funds).
Rail and Amtrak: $66 Billion Authorized, $38 Billion Disbursed
Amtrak and intercity passenger rail received $66 billion in IIJA authorization — the largest federal rail investment since the creation of Amtrak in 1971. Through Q1 2026, $38 billion has been disbursed for Amtrak fleet renewal, Northeast Corridor modernization, and new intercity rail corridors.
Amtrak's fleet renewal program is using $7.3 billion in IIJA funds to purchase 83 new Airo trainsets from Siemens Mobility, replacing the aging Amfleet I equipment that has been in service since the 1970s. The first new trainsets are scheduled for revenue service in late 2026.
Northeast Corridor infrastructure projects receiving IIJA funding include the $3.8 billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel in Baltimore (replacing the 1873 B&P Tunnel), the $1.6 billion Sawtooth Bridge replacement in New Jersey, and the $600 million Connecticut River Bridge replacement.
Resilience, Power Grid, and Other Categories
The remaining IIJA authorizations span multiple categories:
Power grid and clean energy received $27 billion in authorization, with $16 billion disbursed. The Grid Resilience Innovation Program and transmission line construction grants represent the largest allocations.
Airport infrastructure received $25 billion, with $19 billion disbursed through Airport Improvement Program supplements and the new Airport Terminal Program. According to the FAA, 530 airport projects have received IIJA funding.
Environmental remediation received $21 billion for Superfund cleanups, orphaned oil and gas well plugging, and abandoned mine land reclamation. The orphaned wells program alone has funded the plugging of 8,200 wells across 26 states, according to the Department of Interior.
Electric vehicle infrastructure received $7.5 billion through the NEVI program, with $4.8 billion disbursed for charging station construction along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors.
State-by-State: Top 10 IIJA Recipients
According to USASpending.gov and White House data, the top 10 states by total IIJA disbursements through Q1 2026 are:
- California — $36.8 billion
- Texas — $29.4 billion
- New York — $24.7 billion
- Florida — $16.2 billion
- Pennsylvania — $14.8 billion
- Illinois — $13.1 billion
- Ohio — $11.9 billion
- Georgia — $10.4 billion
- Michigan — $9.8 billion
- North Carolina — $9.2 billion
These ten states account for 56.6% of all IIJA disbursements, roughly proportional to their share of the US population and infrastructure inventory.
The Remaining $238 Billion: Timeline and Outlook
With $312 billion disbursed and $238 billion remaining, the final 18 months of the IIJA authorization period will see an acceleration of spending. Several programs — particularly BEAD broadband and competitive bridge grants — have large unobligated balances that must be committed by September 2026.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that actual construction outlays from IIJA funds will continue through 2031, even after the authorization period ends, because multi-year construction projects obligate funds at contract signing but disburse them over the construction period.
For contractors, the IIJA spending trajectory means the infrastructure construction boom is not peaking — it is entering its most intense phase. The programs that were slowest to launch (broadband, competitive bridges, rail) are now releasing their largest tranches of funding simultaneously.
Buy America Requirements and Supply Chain Effects
One of the most consequential — and challenging — provisions of the IIJA is the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), which requires that iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in federally funded infrastructure projects be produced in the United States. The requirement took full effect on May 14, 2022, with limited waivers available from individual agencies.
According to the White House Made in America Office, federal agencies processed 742 waiver requests in fiscal year 2025, approving 218 and denying 291, with the remainder pending or withdrawn. The most common waiver categories were fiber optic cable (insufficient domestic manufacturing capacity), EV charging equipment (limited US production of DC fast charger power electronics), and broadband electronics.
For contractors, BABA compliance adds procurement complexity and cost. The Associated General Contractors of America reported that 62% of contractors working on federally funded projects experienced material cost increases of 8 to 15% attributable to Buy America requirements. Domestic steel procurement — the most straightforward compliance area — adds an average of $40 to $80 per ton versus imported alternatives, according to the American Institute of Steel Construction.
The requirements are also reshaping manufacturing investment. Since the IIJA's passage, domestic manufacturers have announced or completed $14.7 billion in new facilities producing infrastructure materials, including steel pipe mills, precast concrete plants, and fiber optic cable factories, according to the Department of Commerce.
The Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Impact
All IIJA-funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements, which mandate that workers be paid rates determined by the Department of Labor for the locality and trade. In January 2024, DOL finalized an updated Davis-Bacon rule that expanded the definition of prevailing wages and updated survey methodology for the first time in decades.
According to DOL data, the updated rule increased prevailing wage determinations by an average of 12 to 18% across construction trades in rural and suburban areas, while urban rates saw more modest adjustments. The change has material implications for project costs — Davis-Bacon labor typically accounts for 40 to 55% of total construction costs on heavy civil projects, according to FMI.
For contractors, the updated Davis-Bacon requirements reinforce the importance of accurate cost estimating. Projects bid under old prevailing wage assumptions face margin pressure, while firms that adjusted their labor pricing early have maintained profitability on IIJA-funded work.
What Contractors Should Do Now
The most actionable step for contractors seeking IIJA-funded work is to register in SAM.gov (System for Award Management) and monitor grants.gov for upcoming competitive grant rounds. States are required to follow federal procurement rules for IIJA-funded projects, meaning competitive bidding processes are standard. Contractors should also engage with their state DOT programs, which are administering record budgets and actively seeking qualified firms for the surge of projects entering procurement in 2026 and 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much IIJA money has been spent so far?
As of Q1 2026, $312 billion of the $550 billion in new IIJA infrastructure spending has been disbursed, according to the White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator. This represents 56.7% of total authorized funds, with approximately 18 months remaining in the authorization period.
Which states have received the most IIJA funding?
California leads all states with $36.8 billion in total IIJA disbursements, followed by Texas ($29.4 billion), New York ($24.7 billion), Florida ($16.2 billion), and Pennsylvania ($14.8 billion), according to USASpending.gov data. The top 10 recipient states account for 56.6% of all disbursements.
What infrastructure categories received the most IIJA funding?
Roads and highways received the largest allocation at $148 billion authorized, followed by rail and Amtrak ($66 billion), water infrastructure ($55 billion), broadband ($42.45 billion), public transit ($39 billion), and bridge-specific funding ($40 billion). Highway formula funds have disbursed fastest, while broadband construction grants have been the slowest to reach projects.
