Author: clara.kinney@agc.org

AGC of America released a new advisory on the tariff refund process to help contractors navigate the ever-evolving tariff refund landscape. The advisory will help members understand the current refund process, key limitations on who may be eligible to file, and practical steps for navigating the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) refund system through the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) tool. The AGC document discusses CBP’s recent launch of its long‑awaited, non‑litigation refund pathway for certain International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs. CBP is accepting Phase 1 refund submissions through its CAPE system as of April…

The Supreme Court’s recent tariff decision striking down IEEPA-based tariffs, along with the launch of a tariff refund process, has left contractors facing a new set of questions — both about the legal standing of certain tariffs and about the very practical challenge of managing volatile material prices on active projects. For many contractors, a key question is whether any refund would actually reach the construction firm, since tariff refunds generally flow through Customs to the importer of record and may not be tied directly to the contractor that absorbed higher material costs. To help members make sense of what…

AGC of America recently filed comments in support of the Department of Labor’s proposed rule that clarifies the process for identifying independent contractors. If finalized, the rule would re-impose the “economic reality” test that the first Trump administration had adopted back in 2021.  AGC has long called for federal clarification of the independent contractor status and preservation of legitimate independent contractor relationships, such as those that have historically existed in the construction industry. AGC applauds the Department’s proposal to adopt a consistent, clear and common-sense standard for determining independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act and supports the…

We have previously reported on President Trump’s executive orders that target diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) type practices. On April 10, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the first False Claims Act resolution putting this policy into effect. International Business Machines (IBM), a federal contractor, agreed to pay the United States $17,077,043, inclusive of civil penalties, to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with anti-discrimination requirements in its federal contracts due to practices the United States contends discriminated against employees and applicants for employment because of race, color, national origin, or sex. It…

AGC of America is releasing a new white paper today to help contractors explain a growing concern tied to recent tariff developments. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) is now moving forward with a tariff refund portal and claims process, however, contractors may not have a clear or realistic path to recovering those costs. The new AGC resource, in conjunction with the AGC Tariff Resource Center, helps explain why the existence of a portal does not solve the larger legal and practical barriers facing most firms. At a time when tariffs remain a major source of uncertainty across the…

Rising fuel prices continue to drive renewed interest in suspending the federal gas tax, but the conversation is now expanding beyond Washington as several states take action and others consider similar measures. Suspending the gas tax, whether at the federal or state level, does not address the underlying causes of higher fuel prices. It also creates challenges for transportation funding. At the federal level, the gas tax is the primary source of revenue for the Highway Trust Fund, which supports investments in roads, bridges, and transit systems. Reducing or suspending that revenue makes it more difficult to maintain consistent funding…

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) officially kicked off this week in Farmington, Connecticut, with more than 100 attendees gathering at a Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) maintenance facility to highlight the importance of work zone safety. The event, hosted by CTDOT, brought together federal, state, and industry leaders to emphasize the shared responsibility of protecting roadway workers and the traveling public. The program featured remarks from Connecticut DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, who served as emcee, along with speakers representing public safety, labor, and the construction industry. Federal Highway Administration Administrator Sean McMaster and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont delivered keynote…

Recent conversations on the next surface transportation reauthorization have focused on a possible five-year topline in the $500 billion to $600 billion range. At first glance, that sounds much smaller than the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s often-cited $1.2 trillion figure. But it’s not apples to apples. The $1.2 trillion number attached to IIJA covered a much broader set of infrastructure investments beyond roads, bridges, and transit, including things like broadband, water, and energy. For construction companies focused on highway and transit work, the more important comparison is not the overall IIJA headline, but the portion of the law that…

In Part 6 of our Road to Reauthorization series, we focused on technology and innovation. Another key component of the next surface transportation bill is ensuring strong and reliable support for public transit systems. Public transit plays a critical role in the nation’s transportation network, particularly in urban and regional areas where it supports mobility, economic growth, and connectivity. As demand continues to grow, federal policy will need to ensure transit systems can expand and modernize to meet future needs. AGC’s Surface Transportation Priorities focus on that growth and expansion with a central part of that effort being the Federal…

The Associated General Contractors of America joined a diverse coalition of employer organizations in a comment letter raising concerns with recent efforts to expand “worker walkaround” rights during workplace safety inspections. The most recent comments addressed a February 2026 proposal from California’s workplace safety agency (Cal/OSHA), which would further broaden who may participate in inspections and give regulators wider discretion over inspection procedures. The California effort follows a 2024 update by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), allowing employees to designate third-party representatives—such as union officials or outside advocates—to accompany inspectors when deemed reasonably necessary. AGC and others argue…