USACE Engineering and Construction Bulletin (ECB) 2026-3 revokes LEED requirement for applicable Army projects and shifts to CEQ Guiding Principles checklists

USACE issued Engineering and Construction Bulletin (ECB) 2026-3 directing that applicable Army military projects discontinue use of the LEED rating system (previously requiring LEED Silver under referenced criteria) and instead use Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 2020 Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings checklists. The bulletin states the change is effective immediately, with limited grandfathering for projects already registered for LEED and with construction contracts awarded including third-party certification costs prior to a specified date. This impacts LEED-related compliance planning for Army projects, including contract language, sustainability documentation workflows, and third-party certification budgeting.