In 2020, Congress let PHMSA, the nation’s primary pipeline regulator, lapse without reauthorization for more than a year. In 2026, the same problem is back, with PHMSA’s pipeline safety programs operating without an updated funding or authorization since September 30, 2023.
As of March 23, 2026, that gap stands at 905 days.
To be clear, PHMSA has not been “shut down.” The agency can continue operating through general appropriations and user-fee funding even when reauthorization lapses. On a policy front, however, a lack of reauthorization is more concerning. When Congress does not reauthorize, PHMSA does not receive the same kind of updated congressional guidance that typically clarifies priorities, modernizes objectives, and aligns oversight with how energy systems and construction practices are changing.
This lack of guidance (and lack of updated funding levels) can have significant impacts, especially as excavation and pipeline damages have continued to increase in recent years. At the same time, the operating environment for pipeline networks are evolving. New materials and operating practices, emerging fuels and builds, cybersecurity risks that are more visible than ever, and a sustained infrastructure buildout.
Pipelines and energy delivery will be crucial amid the expansion of data centers and Artificial Intelligence market growth. Leaving PHMSA without clear policy direction risks limiting planning and economic expansion. Innovation is moving fast, and the tools available to protect buried infrastructure are improving in capability and accessibility.
The encouraging news is that Congress is actively circling the issue again. In the House of Representatives, a new PIPES Act of 2025 was introduced and approved by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 119th Congress, but reauthorization has still not been enacted. In the Senate the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 similarly stalled. The House Energy & Commerce Committee recently signaled a renewal of activity with a legislative hearing focused on authorizing pipeline safety.
Over the following month, Aii will continue tracking PHMSA reauthorization closely. The critical work of damage prevention and pipeline safety is constant and ever-changing. Excavation damage remains a leading, preventable source of risk for buried infrastructure and the public at large, causing tens of billions of dollars in damage annually.
At the same time, the technology landscape is moving quickly. Pipelines and damage prevention no longer just involves notification and locating. Digital ticketing systems, electronic positive response, better GIS integration, and sensor-driven monitoring are increasingly shaping how operators understand risk and verify conditions in real time. PHMSA has recognized for years that technology can materially improve damage prevention performance, including through policy changes that expand the use of practices and systems that improve situational awareness.
That is why PHMSA reauthorization matters, even when the agency continues operating. Authorization cycles are one of the few moments when Congress can step back, take into consideration the state of the industry, and update alignment to benefit the industry most. PHMSA is a critical leader in the industry not just for regulations, but for guidance and cooperation.
This month, as part of Modern Roots March, Aii has released new content on the damage prevention ecosystem. Recent reports have highlighted both the scale of the nation’s buried infrastructure and the growing role technology can play in improving visibility, monitoring, and protection.
As reauthorization discussions continue, the core question is whether the nation’s safety architecture is keeping pace with the innovation of modern infrastructure systems. In the weeks ahead, Aii will continue to release new content adding context, data, and solutions for the damage prevention industry.
Written by Owen Rogers, Public Policy Associate
The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) is an independent, national research and educational organization working to advance innovation across industry and public policy. The only nationwide public policy think tank dedicated to infrastructure, Aii explores the intersection of economics, law, and public policy in the areas of climate, damage prevention, eminent domain, energy, infrastructure, innovation, technology, and transportation.