Author: agcnews

The first few weeks of the Trump administration have brought rapid changes — revoking executive orders, shifting regulatory priorities, and adjusting federal spending. What does this mean for construction? AGC’s legal and regulatory experts will break down the impact of new tax and trade policies, funding shifts, changes to immigration policy, and workforce regulations. We will then move to a townhall style discussion to allow contractors to ask questions and engage with each other. Please join us on March 19th at 2 p.m. EST for a webinar entitled Executive Orders, Funding Freezes, and Regulatory Reform: What’s Next for Construction? This…

On February 26, Gary Johnson, Vice President of Granite Construction Inc. testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works at a hearing entitled Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Implementation and Case Studies. In his testimony he highlighted that the funding provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was sorely needed and long-awaited, but delivering the surface transportation network our nation deserves is not just a five-year endeavor. Testifying on behalf of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), which AGC of America co-chairs, Johnson highlighted three areas for potential policy improvements in the next multi-year surface transportation reauthorization…

President Trump has issued an Executive Order to begin investigations into national security concerns regarding copper imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The results of the investigation are due in November 2025 and will potentially lead to tariffs being placed on all copper imports coming into the United States. This process follows a similar pathway that President Trump took during his first term for steel and aluminum imports. With additional news on tariffs continuously developing, AGC has developed a Tariff Resource Center for contractors to track all developments and navigate tariff challenges. This center includes…

This week the Trump administration released more details on the steel and aluminum tariffs by publishing a list of steel and aluminum derivative products that will be affected by the tariffs. Specifically, they released the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) and corresponding HTS item for each material. You can match the HTS item to the material at https://hts.usitc.gov/. You may recall, AGC previously reported on President Trump’s 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to “close existing loopholes and exemptions.” Be sure to sign up for AGC’s Webinar: The Art of Dealing with Tariffs taking place on February 27 from 3:00-4:00 pm. This webinar will…

At a Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing on February 19, AGC’s General Counsel Leah Pilconis highlighted the urgent need for reforms to prevent lawsuits from stalling critical infrastructure projects. AGC underscored how prolonged litigation—sometimes filed years after projects have received final approvals—creates uncertainty, disrupts workforce planning, and drives up construction costs. To address this, AGC urged Congress to standardize the 150-day limited judicial review period (deadline for filing claims) for all critical infrastructure projects and eliminate unnecessary procedural hurdles that create prolonged uncertainty. While Congress has protected some infrastructure projects with a 150-day limit on legal challenges (federally funded…

Through an Executive Order, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, President Trump began his promised efforts to reduce the burden of regulation on the public. While some may recall Executive Order 13777’s 2 for 1 mandate during his first term, President Trump has thrown his cap over the wall by calling for ten deregulatory actions for every new regulation issued. To meet this goal, the newly reduced federal regulatory agencies are set to explode with activity. Stakeholders should know that deregulation is no faster or more efficient of a process than regulation is. Agencies still must seek notice and comment from the public and interest groups are free to challenge deregulatory…

On February 19, the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a confirmation hearing for former Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) to lead the United States Department of Labor (DOL). During the testimony, Chavez-DeRemer spent time distancing herself from prior support as a Congresswoman from the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, the need for a skilled workforce and a regulatory climate that spurs economic growth. Chavez-DeRemer highlighted the critical challenges employers and workers alike are facing today and the need to create regulatory environments that address this. The DOL will play a critical role in revising and…

The Corporate Transparency Act (the CTA) is once again in effect after a Texas district court lifted the last remaining block on its enforcement on February 17, 2025, in Smith, et al. v. U.S. Department of the Treasury, et al. As a result, most companies subject to the rule, including covered contractors, must comply with a new reporting deadline of March 21, 2025. Contractors should prepare now—and AGC urges members to share by February 26 their ongoing costs and compliance burdens to strengthen AGC’s legal arguments as it continues fighting the CTA’s constitutionality in court. Stay tuned for further updates. Several lawsuits are ongoing challenging the constitutionality…

In this episode of ConstructorCast, host Max Nelson engages with Adam Stark, founder of Jet.Build and host of the Veterans Who Build podcast, and Jesse Gemberling-Johnson, a Marine Corps veteran and Chief Talent Officer at mcfa. They explore the challenges veterans encounter when transitioning to civilian life, the alignment between military skills and those required in construction, and strategies contractors can employ to effectively recruit and retain veteran talent. The discussion highlights the often untapped potential of veterans in the construction industry, emphasizing the value they bring through their discipline, leadership, and technical skills. The guests share insights into initiatives…

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) have reintroduced the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Act to build the U.S. workforce and help connect individuals to good jobs. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.). WOTC is an important tax preference that has been utilized for nearly three decades to build workforces in local communities across the country. AGC appreciates that this legislation takes important steps to strengthen WOTC, the first significant improvements since the credit’s creation in 1996. The benefits to improving and expanding WOTC are countless. WOTC-eligible workers live in…