This paper discusses a brief history of desalting research within the Department of the Interior, Office of Saline Water and the Office of Water Research and Technology, as well as the current desalting research programs within the Bureau of Reclamation. An overview is provided on the research that has been accomplished under Reclamation's Yuma Desalting Research Program over the past 12 years, as well as its Water Treatment Technology Program over the past 2 years. Information is also presented on specific on-going desalting research projects. These include a report published on National Desalting and Water Treatment Needs Survey , an RO pilot plant being tested to recover groundwater while using the reject flow for a wetlands project; cost-shared studies on improved performance and cost of membranes, membrane fouling, biocides, desalting cogeneration systems, nanofiltration systems, freeze desalination, an improved RO pumping and energy recovery system, a mobile water treatment pilot plant, as well as a Desalting and Water Treatment Membrane Manual that has been published on the latest state-of-the-art membranes.