Author: agcnews
On Monday, President Donald J. Trump officially became the 47th President of the United States. Prior to taking office, AGC met with his transition team and outlined the construction industry’s priorities for his second term. On his first day in office, he wasted no time, issuing a series of executive orders and presidential memorandums to outline his positions on a wide range of issues. This first wave of executive action included the signing of 26 executive orders by January 22nd. Executive orders are directives from the president that instruct executive agencies and direct the operations of the federal government. AGC of America…
This week the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Russ Vought to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Taking front and center in the hearing was the topic of impoundment, which is when a presidential administration withholds money that was provided by Congress. It is a top priority for Democrats looking to hold the executive branch accountable and ensure funding provided by Congress is released by agencies. Adding fuel to this fire was a vaguely worded executive order that directs agencies to “pause the disbursement of funds” for electric vehicle charging stations provided under the Infrastructure Investment…
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed and announced the rescission of more than 70 Biden-era executive orders, mostly focused on climate. AGC of America has been digging into the details to assess how these rescissions will impact the construction industry. Relevant rescissions include: Executive Order 14037, Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks: This executive order directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish stricter vehicle emission standards and boost investments to advance the electric vehicle market. Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): This order focused…
Among the directives issued by President Trump on Monday was a regulatory freeze memo. The memo orders federal agencies to: Freeze memos are a standard practice for incoming administrations, dating back to President Reagan’s first term. The freeze allows the new administration time to review proposed rules under the previous administration and determine whether to continue them. The freeze applies to proposed rules, final rules, guidance documents, and any other substantive action by an agency. Rules needed to address emergency situations or urgent circumstances are exempt. Proposed rules that are currently open for public comment are not affected by the freeze. One…
On January 16, AGC released a new survey to identify contractor experiences when conducting underground utility work. The survey updates data AGC initially collected in 2021. According to the results, nearly two-thirds of utility line strikes by utility contractors during the past year occurred because the lines were at least two-feet away from where they were marked after the firms called 811 before digging. This indicates that although contractors are using the 811 system, which is the nationwide number for construction firms and anyone else planning to excavate are required to call in advance, utility companies need to be timelier…
On January 16, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on the nomination of Lee Zeldin to be administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the three and a half hours of robust questioning, Mr. Zeldin committed to finding common ground in addressing environmental challenges and working across party lines. He addressed the imperative of building private sector collaboration and common-sense regulations and stressed the importance for EPA to honor its requirements under the law, follow congressional intent, and be held accountable and transparent. Mr. Zeldin answered questions from committee Republicans on a…
On January 15, former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy appeared before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation for his confirmation hearing as nominee for Secretary of Transportation. During his testimony, Duffy emphasized a commitment to enhancing transportation safety, modernizing infrastructure, and fostering innovation within the sector. Duffy highlighted the critical need to address safety concerns, noting that approximately 40,000 lives are lost annually in roadway accidents. He shared a personal connection to this issue, mentioning his wife’s survival of a severe head-on car crash, which profoundly impacted their family. Duffy further pledged to prioritize road safety initiatives to prevent…
This week, AGC of America met with the transition team at the Department of Transportation to discuss AGC’s priorities for the Trump administration. AGC discussed challenges with the recently implemented Disadvantaged Business Enterprise rule and ongoing challenges with Buy America requirements. Additionally, AGC discussed worker shortages and regulatory overreach that undermines the industry’s ability to build infrastructure. In addition, AGC CEO Jeff Shoaf held a meeting with Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). This committee has jurisdiction over the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Highway Administration. During the meeting they discussed priorities for the next surface transportation…
On January 13, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council withdrew the proposed rule, “Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk.” AGC of America submitted extensive comments explaining the significant challenges the proposal would have posed to the construction industry while advocating for commonsense and workable regulations. The proposed regulation would have introduced carbon reporting and disclosure requirements for two new categories of federal contractors: “significant contractors” and “major contractors.” Under the proposal: Had the rule been finalized, significant contractors would have been required to complete and disclose their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions inventory within one year of publication of…
On January 15, AGC of Texas past president Seth Schulgen of Williams Brothers testified on behalf of AGC of America before the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. Schulgen discussed the status of America’s transportation systems from the perspective of a construction company. In his testimony, Schulgen highlighted how inflation has driven up the cost of construction. Specifically, he noted that from February 2020 to November 2024 the industry experienced a: In addition to economic data, Schulgen highlighted industry optimism for the upcoming year, as noted within an AGC survey of its members, much of which is due to ongoing impacts from the Infrastructure Investment and…