The University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics will receive $111 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2026, marking the largest annual funding level in the laboratory’s history.
The funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration represents a 17 percent increase over the previous year and was approved by both houses of Congress before President Donald Trump signed it into law. The money will support operations from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026.
The allocation will restart major sustainment projects at the Omega Laser Facility, the nation’s largest university-based laser facility operated by the Department of Energy. The funding comes after NNSA provided Congress with a report outlining sustainment needs across all major facilities in the inertial confinement fusion program…