Funding preserved for Legal Services Corporation

Federal Funding Update:
Senate passes $540M for legal services in FY 2026 — A meaningful win for civil legal aid nationwide

In January 2026, Congress passed a bipartisan funding bill that preserves strong federal support for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the backbone of civil legal aid in the United States. While the final funding level of $540 million does represent a 3.6% cut to LSC's 2025 appropriation of $560 million, this outcome still represents a significant victory.

An earlier proposal from the White House called for eliminating LSC funding entirely, and a previous House appropriations proposal would have cut LSC’s budget by 46%. Instead, Congress reaffirmed—by overwhelming, bipartisan votes—that access to justice matters.

While this appropriation of $540 million does not provide enough funding to close the justice gap in America, it does reflect broad recognition of the essential role of civil legal aid. Read LSC's press release with more information here.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the largest national funder for organizations providing civil legal aid to low-income Americans. Since it was established by Congress in 1974, LSC has operated as an independent nonprofit, providing essential grants that support civil legal justice programs around the country. LSC distributes over 90% of its funding to 130 nonprofit legal aid programs, including The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

As the only civil legal aid provider in our five-county service area, Cleveland Legal Aid plays an essential role in improving safety, health, and economic security for Ohioans. Currently, funding from LSC comprises 15.5% of Cleveland Legal Aid's budget ($3.5 million in 2025).